Switzerland and Paraguay secured top-10 finishes at the 2026 IHF Women’s Under-16 World Championship, with wins against Tunisia and Morocco in the first matches of the day in Agadir.

Argentina and Guinea opened their accounts in the competition, with their first wins seeing them heading to the Placement Match 13/14.

Placement Matches 9–12
Tunisia vs Switzerland 21:31 (14:13)
Morocco vs Paraguay 31:42 (18:18)

Placement Matches 13–16
USA vs Guinea 11:49 (4:27)
Mexico vs Argentina 17:35 (7:18)

• Switzerland ensured a top-10 finish and a showdown against Guinea for the ninth place, thanks to a comeback against Tunisia, 31:21
   
• The African side was up one goal at the break, 14:13, and three goals, 16:13, in the 32nd minute, but Switzerland mounted a sturdy comeback, allowing the African side to score five times in the last 28 minutes
   
• Switzerland goalkeeper Carla Roth saved 11 shots for a 42% saving efficiency, while wing Svea Lehmann added six goals in Switzerland’s win
   
• Guinea secured their maiden win in the competition, totally outplaying USA, with an 80% shooting efficiency and 49 goals scored
   
• Yarie Mansare had 14 goals for Guinea, while Sounka Diakite added 10, as the African side will now face Argentina in the Placement Match 13/14
   
• Paraguay dealt hosts Morocco their third loss in four matches, after strolling on in the second half, after the first 30 minutes ended in a stalemate, 18:18
   
• Tiziana Thais Devaca Troche and Carla Alexia Gonzalez Lopez were Paraguay’s top scorers, with 10 and nine goals respectively
   
• After a dramatic win against Tunisia, 39:35, in the last preliminary round match, Mexico did not have anything in the tank, as their attacking efficiency collapsed to under 30% 
   
• Oriana Repetto Gale was Argentina’s top scorer, with seven goals, as Mexico face USA in the Placement Match 15/16, to avoid finishing last