In less than 10 months, the planet’s best handball players will excite the world in arenas around Norway, Denmark and Croatia during the 29th IHF Men’s World Championship. The three host countries connect different corners of Europe, making the slogan INSPIRED BY HANDBALL perfectly suited. 

For the third time in history, 32 teams will take part in the IHF Men’s World Championship. Two preliminary round groups, one main round group, two quarter finals, one semi-final, as well as the bronze medal match and the big final will be played in Telenor Arena outside of Oslo, Norway. Two other preliminary round groups and one main round group will take place in Herning, Denmark, while Zagreb will host two preliminary round groups, one main round group, two quarter-finals and one semi-final.

“We are really looking forward to hosting the World Championship on Norwegian soil, with the final weekend as the icing of the cake. This will be the first World Championship gold medal match in Norway since the women's tournament in 1999, and it will be a great honour to welcome the world's best handball players to Fornebu. The preparations are well under way, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Together with our hard-working colleagues in all three host countries, and the hundreds of volunteers who will make it possible to stage the championship, we are excited to welcome the rest of the world to Norway and Telenor Arena”, project manager Kia Haftorn Otnes says.

While the final will be played on 2 February in the Telenor Arena, the opening ceremony and the first match of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Handball Championship are scheduled for Herning, Denmark on 14 January 2025. 

“We are excited that Denmark can begin the defence of the IHF Men’s World Championship-trophy on home ground. The championship will be the seventh in the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, where the atmosphere is always electric. Once again, we aim to raise the bar and set new standards for world-class handball experiences together with our co-hosts and the hundreds of volunteers who make it all possible. We can’t wait to welcome handball fans from all over the world," says Anita Kristiansen, Event Manager of the Danish Handball Association.

Croatia will welcome the teams of the last four preliminary groups. Two groups will be played in Zagreb, while one is set for Porec and one for Varazdin. Furthermore, one main round will be staged in Zagreb and one in Varazdin, before Zagreb will host one semifinal during the final weekend of the championship. The President’s Cup will be arranged in Porec. 

“We are delighted and proud that Croatia, along with Denmark and Norway, will be hosting the IHF Men's World Championship 2025. Confidently, the three big handball nations will offer unforgettable experiences for the 32 national teams and handball enthusiasts worldwide, whether they attend the event in the host cities and Arenas or follow it on television and virtual world," says Tomislav Grahovac, President of the Croatian Handball Federation.

"All three hosts have vast experience in organising major handball competitions, and we are fully committed to meeting the expectations of the International Handball Federation, while elevating the standards of event organisation. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome thousands of fans from the whole world, sharing with them the unique moments of the World Championship 2025. Under the slogan "Inspired by handball," we extend a warm invitation to everyone to join us in Zagreb, Varaždin, and Poreč for this exciting Championship and great experience “,

The three organisers originally applied separately for the 2025 World Championship and merged their bids for the benefit of handball. A prerequisite for hosting together was the division of semifinals in two host countries. The teams who qualify from the main round in Herning will travel to Oslo for the quarter-finals and the semi-final, while the teams from the main round group in Varazdin will be heading to Zagreb to meet the top teams from that group in the quarter finals and semi-final.

Finally, the two teams playing each other in a semifinal in Zagreb, will travel to Oslo for the final day on 2 February, when the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship comes to a close. For the complete match schedule, please see the official championship website www.inspiredbyhandball.com.

18 out of 32 nations are already qualified for the tournament. Another 11 of the participating countries will be unveiled through the European play-offs, due to take place in May. The draw of the preliminary groups will take place in Zagreb on 29 May.

Ticket sales are already available in Croatia, the sales for the matches played in Denmark will start on 8 April, while the tickets for the matches scheduled in Norway are due to be available in the next weeks. 

All tickets can be purchased through the official championship website www.inspiredbyhandball.com.