The third day of competition at the 2025 IHF Women's World Championship will likely bring several main round berths already sealed, with co-hosts Germany being one of the teams which can progress to the next round, as they will be heavily favoured against Uruguay. The last eight teams yet to throw off their campaign, including co-hosts Netherlands, will make their debuts too on Friday.

GROUP C

18:00 CET Uruguay vs Germany

Uruguay, who are participating at the World Championship for the first time in 14 years, fought hard for 45 minutes of their opening match with Serbia but ultimately lost by 12 goals, 19:31. Now the South American side will face an even more difficult test, as they are scheduled to play against co-hosts Germany.

The two sides have never met in competitive matches, and before their first-ever encounter Germany are seen as clear favourites. The team coached by Markus Gaugisch enjoyed a good start to the tournament on Wednesday, beating Iceland 32:25. Another victory will secure them an early main round berth, and they are looking forward to the match against the South Americans.

“Uruguay are the underdogs in our group. However, we have to be focused to play a dominant game. We don't want to risk losing any points,” Germany’s left back Emily Vogel said.​

20:30 CET Serbia vs Iceland

It will be the first encounter between the two European sides at a major international competition. However, they faced off in qualification for the Women’s EHF EURO 2022, exchanging home wins – 23:21 for Iceland and 28:22 for Serbia, with only the Balkan side then qualifying for the final tournament.​

Now Serbia also have the upper hand after the opening round of matches, as they started the World Championship with a 12-goal win over Uruguay and top the group ahead of Germany on goal difference. They need another win to book a main round spot and, although the team’s performance on Wednesday was not perfect, Serbia will be favoured to beat Iceland.​

The Icelanders have less experience at this level, playing only their third World Championship. The opening match against Germany was a good lesson for Arnar Pétursson’s team, and now they hope to improve their game and try to grab some points on Friday.

GROUP D
18:00 CET Paraguay vs Montenegro

Paraguay head coach Marizza Faria goes into this clash against the 2012 European champions sweating on the fitness of key players, captain Delyne Leiva and Sabrina Fiore. Both were injured in their opening day 26:17 loss against Spain, with Fiore’s knee injury looking the most serious, compared to the elbow knock for Leiva.

Montenegro defeated Faroe Islands 32:27 in their first game of the championship as they look to finally win a medal in the global event – one which would complete their set, joining Olympic and world championship podium prizes.

“The most important thing is that we won this game and we are good as a group, as a team,” said Montenegro captain Đurđina Jauković to ihf.info about the opening day victory. “It's the first game of championship and in a way the hardest game, but I'm happy how we played. We missed some shots, but I hope that against Paraguay we will be much better. I feel really good and I'm happy that I'm here.”

20:30 CET Spain vs Faroe Islands

A lacklustre win against Paraguay in their opening game of Germany/Netherlands 2025 will not bother Spain coach Ambros Martin as he handed no less than eight players world championship debuts. 

“Knowing how to win matches when you're not at your best,” as Martin told rfebm.com, is part of the learning phase his young team are going through in Trier but the Faroes – who as a team are in their world championship debut – will be a completely different proposition to the South American team.

“We know we’re going to face a pretty tough and combative team, with a somewhat Scandinavian style, which means a lot of transitions,” said Jennifer Gutiérrez to rfebm.com, while Faroes captain Pernille Brandenborg is hoping her side can show what they are capable of. “We'll try not to focus too much on the score,” she said to ihf.info. “We will try to focus on playing our best game this far. Each time we play, we know we need to be there 100% to make results. But of course, at some point of this championship, we're dreaming of a victory. So let's see.”

GROUP E
18:00 CET Austria vs Egypt

Germany/Netherlands 2025 marks the third consecutive World Championship for Austria, and after finishing 16th and 19th, they aim to leave a strong mark with a young, ambitious squad. Led by new coach Monique Tijsterman, Austria’s first mission will be to find balance in the group and keep their progression hopes alive.

Even though the team lacks big-tournament experience, the spine is anything but fragile – but both Johanna Reichert and Katarina Pandža, the third‑best scorer of the EHF Champions League Women, are out.

They open their journey against another inexperienced side, debutants Egypt. The Egyptians finally stepped forward on the continental stage, securing a fourth‑place finish at the 2024 CAHB African Women’s Championship, which opened the door to their first World Championship appearance. Their enthusiasm is high, but the task is enormous: all three other teams in Group E enter as favourites against them, leaving Egypt to chase surprises from the underdog position.

20:30 CET Netherlands vs Argentina

Co-hosts the Netherlands arrive at the Rotterdam Ahoy in high spirits, dreaming of making this World Championship truly memorable. With Estavana Polman and Lois Abbingh planning to retire from the national team after this tournament, the Dutch hope to give them an unforgettable farewell while keeping alive the ambition of recreating their 2019 world title magic. They have quality, home support and momentum on their side, but they know the road ahead is far from simple.

“It's not over yet. Our focus is now on one dream: winning another World Championship medal, but I can already look back with pride and gratitude,” said Polman for handbal.nl.

Backed by a squad filled with players from top EHF Champions League Women clubs and guided by coach Henrik Signell, the Netherlands hope to carry over the strong feeling from their preparation period, which they closed with a statement 36:26 win against Brazil.

Waiting for them in the opener are Argentina, runners-up at the 2024 South and Central America Women’s Championship. They may not be expected to trouble the Dutch on home ground, especially after finishing 20th and 21st at the last two editions, but they will fight hard knowing their more realistic opportunities come later in the group. Led by left back Elke Karsten and featuring a core of players competing in Spain, Argentina will try to stay competitive and push the tempo against the co-hosts.

GROUP F
18:30 CET Poland vs People’s Republic of China

Arne Senstad leads Poland into their 19th World Championship in a good mood after winning the Croatia Cup, where they outplayed hosts Croatia and earned a draw against Senegal, enough to lift the trophy at the end of the preparation period. Riding that momentum, Poland arrive in ’s‑Hertogenbosch confident they can build on the progress shown at the EHF EURO 2024, where they finished ninth.

Despite a few departures from the national team, the core remains steady, and captain Monika Kobylińska continues to be at the heart of the squad. They open against China, a consistent World Championship participant who received a wild card for their own 19th appearance. The results have not been the best recently, finishing 28th and 32nd at the last two editions, and after placing only fifth at the 2024 AHF Asian Women’s Handball Championship following four consecutive bronzes, expectations might seem modest.

Still, China are not arriving with a white flag. With new coach Yerime Sylla, they aim to surprise someone with their fast-paced style. This will be the fourth World Championship encounter between the two sides, and China have never defeated Poland.

21:00 CET France vs Tunisia

France arrive at Germany/Netherlands 2025 carrying a name that already speaks for itself. The reigning world champions have reached three finals in the last four editions, and that pedigree alone sets the tone. Yet Sébastien Gardillou faces a new challenge: this is his first World Championship in the role of head coach.

The former assistant to Olivier Krumbholz already led the team on his own at the EHF EURO 2024, and now France enter the flagship competition without players Laura Glauser, Laura Flippes (Schneider), Estelle Nze Minko and Chloé Valentini. Five players have never appeared at a major event, and Grâce Zaadi-Deuna is still questionable. Even so, ambition remains sky‑high and the roster is stacked with experience and depth.

Tunisia return to the World Championship after a six-year hiatus, earning their spot with a bronze medal at the 2024 CAHB African Championship. The squad looks similar to previous editions, relying on continuity to give them a shot at progression. Their opener against France carries an extra twist, as Tunisia’s coach is Pablo Morel, a Frenchman who once led Brest Bretagne Handball.

In their preparations, Tunisia lost twice to the Republic of Korea (30:27, 33:28), while France won their home tournament by defeating Japan and Angola. France and Tunisia have met only once at a World Championship, in 2011, where France won 25:17.