With the time flying, the countdown for the 2022 IHF Men's Super Globe has started, with the competition scheduled between 18 and 23 October in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, where 12 teams will battle for the coveted trophy secured last season by German powerhouse SC Magdeburg.

As handball's popularity is soaring, the number of participants for this edition has been increased from 10 to 12 teams, with two additional wild cards being handed before the start of the competition. That is due to take place in the Dammam Sports Hall. The venue was also used in 2019 and scheduled to host the 2020 edition – which has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will be the first-ever edition of the IHF Men's Super Globe with 12 teams at the start, as the participants' number has increased over the last editions, with 10 sides being at the beginning in each of the past two editions.

11 of the 12 participants are already confirmed. The last berth will be awarded to the Arab Handball Championship of Champions winner, which will take place between 17 and 27 September in Tunisia.

Two former winners – SC Magdeburg, the reigning champions, and Barça, the winners of the EHF Champions League Men, totalling six titles between them – will take the court in Dammam as two other European sides join them. 

The EHF European League Men winners, SL Benfica, will debut in the IHF Men's Super Globe. At the same time, for  Lomza Industria Kielce, it will be the second participation after they finished third in 2016 when they took part as the reigning EHF Champions League Men winners.

HC Taubate, the 2022 South and Central American Men's Club Handball Championship winners, will return, registering their seventh participation in the competition, with their top finish being fifth in 2018.

The 2022 CAHB African Men's Handball Super Cup winners, Al Ahly, are back in contention for the first time since 2015, when they finished fifth, sealing their participation after a superb win in the final against archrivals Zamalek, 32:31.

For the first time in history, Mexico will be represented in the IHF Men's Super Globe, with Club Ministros securing the trophy at the 2022 North American and Caribbean Senior Club Championship with an unexpected win against domestic rivals Vikingos de Sonora, 23:22.

Saudi club Mudhar will participate as the host club in their third competition. At the same time, Australian side Sydney Uni – one of the most successful Oceanian clubs in the past decade – celebrate their tenth consecutive berth at the IHF Men's Super Globe after finishing in eighth place no less than seven times.

Two Asian teams close the lineup, with the host federation's representatives Khaleej and the Asian's representatives  Al-Kuwait sealing their spots in the competition. The latter side secured safe passage to Dammam by winning the 2022 Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship with a 28:23 win against Al-Najma from Bahrain in the competition's final.

As the draw has not yet taken place, we do not yet know who will play against whom. But what we do know: The 12 teams will be divided into four groups of three teams each. The group winners progress to the semi-finals, where the winner from Group A meets Group B's winner. Group C's winner faces the winner from Group D. The other sides will play in the Placement Matches 5/8 and Placement Matches 9/12.