Hungary have missed out on qualifying at the IHF Women’s World Championship only twice in history – in 1990 and 2011. In their previous 24 appearances, they have won nine medals, including the gold in 1965.

Four silver medals and four bronze medals make the European side the second in the medals rankings in the competition’s history, just behind Norway’s 12 medals, but Hungary have not finished on the podium since 2005.

Between 1993 and 2015, they have been one of the most consistent teams in the competition, finishing 12 times in a row in the top-10, but since then, they have missed out on a single-digit finish, ending up 10th both at Spain 2021 and at Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023, failing to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

But over the last years, an improvement was to be seen in Hungary’s form, which finished sixth at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and made the podium at the EHF EURO 2024, which they co-hosted, with a perfect mix between youth and experience providing a launchpad for Vlagyimir Golovin’s side.

Many of the players who have delivered good performances over the last decade in the youth and junior women teams are now fully integrated in the senior side, with right back Katrin Klujber, centre back Petra Vamos or left back Csenge Kuczora hitting the prime of their careers.

Klujber especially has been leading by example, named the Female Player of the Year in Hungary in 2022 and 2024 and sitting sixth in the all-time scoring charts for the European side, with 528 goals, with the fifth place in sight. Klujber also hit her potential in the continental events in 2022 and 2024, being named in the All-Star team and being the top goal scorer of the EHF EURO 2024, with 60 goals.

On the other hand, centre back Petra Simon will turn 21 years old in November, just one month before the start of the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, but is expected to play a pivotal role in this Hungary team, especially as she has been named the 2024 IHF Young Female Player of the Year, after a stellar performance in the previous year.

Simon, Klujber, and their colleagues in the back line, Csenge Kuczora or Petra Vamos, are expected to carry the load once again, especially as Hungary will be missing some key experienced players for this competition, with captain Blanka Bíró and defensive specialist Kinga Debreczeni-Klivinyi giving birth this autumn, while right wing Viktória Győri-Lukács is also pregnant.

That means that Golovin will need to usher in some new blood into the team, but the pipeline of talent has brought plenty of backups in this case, as Hungary have more than enough talent to provide some cover in case of emergency.

As they gear up to host the 2027 IHF Women’s World Championship in two years’ time, Hungary would certainly like to see more progress in the competition this time and their path towards a quarter-finals berth seems better than in the previous editions.

They will be favoured due to their experience against Switzerland, Senegal and the Republic of Iran, boasting an immaculate record against the first two sides. And with Group B pairing with Group A – Denmark, Romania, Croatia and Japan – in the main round, Hungary will be primed to make it between the top eight teams in the world for the first time in 12 years.

Key players: Katrin Klujber (right back), Petra Simon (centre back), Petra Vámos (centre back)

Coach: Vlagyimir Golovin

Qualification for Germany/Netherlands 2025: EHF EURO 2024: 3rd place

History in tournament: 1957: 2nd, 1962: 5th, 1965: 1st, 1971: 3rd, 1973: 4th, 1975: 3rd, 1978: 3rd, 1982: 2nd, 1986: 8th, 1993: 7th, 1995: 2nd, 1997: 9th, 1999: 5th, 2001: 6th, 2003: 2nd, 2005: 3rd, 2007: 8th, 2009: 9th, 2013: 8th, 2015: 11th, 2017: 15th, 2019: 14th, 2021: 10th, 2023: 10th

Group at Germany/Netherlands 2025: Group B (Hungary, Switzerland, Senegal, Islamic Republic of Iran