The Women’s Intercontinental Phase of the IHF Trophy is set to take place from 7 to 11 April 2026 in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. Hosted by the Bulgarian Handball Federation, the tournament will feature six youth (Under-18) and six junior (Under-20) women’s national teams that advanced through the continental phases of the IHF Trophy. The winners in both categories will secure automatic qualification for the respective IHF Women’s Youth and Junior World Championships.
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In the youth (Under-18) category, the competing nations are Bulgaria, Canada, Guinea, New Caledonia, Uzbekistan and Venezuela, representing all the six confederations members of the IHF – Europe, North America, Africa, Oceania, Asia and South and Central America. The junior (Under-20) line-up includes Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Guinea, New Caledonia and Uzbekistan.

The IHF Trophy serves as a structured development pathway for emerging handball nations, progressing from zonal to continental phases before the high-stakes Intercontinental Phase. For women’s teams, it provides critical international exposure, helping to build national squads, coaches and referees while bridging the gap to the elite level.

In the junior event, past editions of the women's IHF Trophy have produced standout moments. The youth team of Kosovo and the junior team of Uzbekistan won titles at the 2024 Women’s IHF Trophy Intercontinental Phase and booked their tickets to the IHF Women's Junior and Youth World Championships in their respective age categories.

A cornerstone of the competition is its qualification mechanism: youth and junior champions advance directly to the World Championships. Should a winner be ineligible due to prior qualification or not eligible to qualify due to its associate member status, the runner-up assumes the spot, ensuring broad access for developing federations.