The match schedule for the 2027 IHF Men's World Championship has been confirmed, marking another important milestone in the build-up to the competition, which will take place in Germany from 13 to 31 January 2027.

With the schedule now set, fans can already begin planning their tournament experience across the six host cities - Munich, Stuttgart, Kiel, Magdeburg, Hanover and Cologne - seven months before the first throw-off.

The playing times for the hosts, Germany, have also been finalised. Alfred Gislason’s side will face Tunisia in the opening match of the competition on 13 January in Munich, before taking on Uruguay on 15 January and Serbia on 17 January. All three preliminary round matches will start at 20:30 CET at the SAP Garden.

“The confirmation of the match schedule makes the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship even more tangible for the fans. The draw already created excitement around the sporting matchups, and now supporters can start planning their own World Championship experience. The fact that Germany will play all three of its preliminary round matches in prime time creates attractive conditions for spectators both in the arena and watching from home,” said Mark Schober, Chief Executive Officer of the German Handball Federation.

The opening day on 13 January in Munich will have a special format, with the first match of the competition scheduled for 17:30, followed by the official opening ceremony before Germany takes the court in the evening. On the remaining preliminary round matchdays, games will generally start at 18:00 CET and 20:30 CET.

The reigning champions, Denmark, will start their title defending campaign in Kiel, on 15 January, at 20:30 CET against the United States of America. The matches against Angola and Slovenia will also be played at 20:30 CET.

The preliminary round will be played between 13 and 19 January in Munich, Stuttgart, Kiel and Magdeburg.

 

Download the PDF of the schedule here.

For the main round, which will be staged in Hanover and Cologne, throw-off times are scheduled for 15:30 CET, 18:00 CET and 20:30 CET. Should Germany qualify for the main round and then progress to the quarter-finals in Cologne, they would also play those matches at 20:30 CET.

An exception applies to Group D, which includes France. In that group, matches will begin either at 18:00 or 18:30 and at 20:30 or 21:00. Final confirmation of those throw-off times will follow consultations with the French broadcast rights holders. The same applies, should France qualify, to matches in Main Round Group II in Cologne.

Tickets remain available, particularly for Group E in Kiel, featuring Sweden and Norway, as well as for non-German main round matches in Hanover and Cologne. Additional ticket contingents will become available when the third ticket sales phase opens on 4 September, although no new tickets for matchdays involving Germany are currently expected to go on sale at that stage.

The IHF reserves the right to amend the match schedule at any time.