Two incredible clashes are set to deliver drama and excitement as the final weekend of the 2025 IHF Women's World Championship finally arrives. The packed Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam is ready to see two co-hosts, the Netherlands and Germany, fight for their spot in the final.

Germany will open the day in the first semi-final against reigning champions France, while the Netherlands will try to use their home court once again to beat the heavyweights from Norway in the second semi-final.

Semi-finals
17:45 CET France vs Germany

Title holders France step into their third straight World Championship semi-final and eighth overall, knowing they have never lost at this stage. Every time they reached the semis, they reached the final too. Three times they turned it into gold, most recently in 2023. After a commanding quarter-final win over Denmark, they look ready to chase another final, unbothered by pressure and fuelled by a squad that always seems to rise when it matters most.

Now, in their way stands another co-host, Germany. After seven wins in seven matches in Dortmund, they are leaving the home soil for the first time, as their perfect run has brought them to Rotterdam. The last time Germany played for a World Championship medal was in 2007, when they claimed bronze, and after stopping twice in the quarter-finals in 2021 and 2023, this breakthrough already marks a major step forward.

However, when it comes to dreams of a final, history is not on their side. Germany have not beaten France at a World Championship in over 20 years. Out of their four duels on this stage, Germany's only win came back in 2005, when they won 32:26.

Markus Gaugisch's team is led by Antje Döll, currently at 39 goals, and by the goalkeeping strength that defines all four semi-finalists. Katharina Filter sits at a strong 39% save rate with 64 stops and will now meet several familiar faces from her Brest Bretagne days.

France regrouped after their loss to co-host the Netherlands and showed a completely different face against Denmark. They have imposed their fast pace, had a stronger defensive structure, and a better attacking efficiency. Young left wing Suzanne Wajoka leads their scoring so far with 32 goals, followed by Sarah Bouktit and Lucie Granier with 30 each, while Bouktit delivered a flawless 8/8 in the quarter-final. Léna Grandveau continues to steer the team with 36 assists, the second-highest tally of the competition.

This semi-final brings another statistical duel. France enter with the second-best attack of the championship, with 244 goals, and the fourth-best defence, with 153 conceded. Germany is the other way around, with the fourth-best attack (232 goals) and the second-best defence (149 conceded).

20:45 CET Netherlands vs Norway

Co-hosts the Netherlands hope that a packed Ahoy Arena will once again carry them forward as they chase their first World Championship final since 2019, the year they lifted the trophy. But on that path stands one of the toughest possible opponents: Norway.

The Scandinavian powerhouse has reached every World Championship final since 2007 except three - 2009 (3rd), 2013 (5th), and 2019 (4th) - while at the Women's EHF EURO they remain an unassailable force, taking three straight titles and a medal at every edition except 2018 and 2002, along with eight Olympic medals. They arrive in Rotterdam as reigning Olympic and European champions, and at the last World Championship only France managed to stop them in the final.

Norway bring everything they are known for: a disciplined, mobile defence, relentless fast breaks, and powerful back-court shots. Their attack is led by Henny Reistad, the top scorer of the team with 40 goals, the heartbeat of their offence and the one the Dutch defence will have to shut down. Behind it all stands Katrine Lunde, turning her final World Championship into a farewell masterclass with 63 saves at 54% efficiency.

The Netherlands have shown they can handle the pressure as they survived momentum swings in the main round and stayed composed in tense duels, lastly in the quarter-final against Hungary. Their pace and team rhythm keep rising, driven by Bo van Wetering with her 37 goals and Dione Housheer.

Co-hosts also have their goalkeeper to take the spotlight. Katrine Lunde's former Odense Håndbold teammate, Yara Ten Holte, was instrumental for the Dutch success and has already racked up 73 saves at a 40% efficiency.

Norway and the Netherlands have met nine times at World Championships, with six wins for Norway, two for the Netherlands, and one draw. Three of those clashes came in knockout stages, all won by Norway. They triumphed in the 2023 quarter-final match (30:23), in the 2017 semi-final (32:23), and the 2015 final (31:23). The last time the Netherlands won at the flagship competition was in the group stage of 2019, by 30:28.