Seven nations from three continents will be appearing at Stage 1 of the 2023 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour, which takes place in Brazil from 26 to 30 April.

Teams from Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Portugal, the United States of America and Uruguay will join hosts Brazil as the tour enters its second season.

At the stage announcement earlier this month, it was revealed that a men’s and women’s tournament will be held in the host city Maricá, which lies on the South Atlantic coast and is just 25km from Rio de Janeiro.

Three continents to do battle in men’s event
The men’s competition features two continental champions: the United States of America and Brazil. Portugal, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina join them.

Brazil’s men currently hold the South and Central American Beach Handball Championship title – a championship in which Argentina finished second, Uruguay third and Chile sixth. 

The host nation won the title at the last edition of the ANOC World Beach Games and bronze at the 2022 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship in Greece.

The United States of America men currently hold the North America and the Caribbean Handball Confederation Beach Handball Championship title, while Portugal finished fifth in the 2021 EHF Men’s Beach Handball European Championship.

Argentina, Brazil and the United States of America have also all qualified for the 2023 ANOC World Beach Games, which take place in Bali, Indonesia, in August.

Brazil and Argentina women to renew rivalry
After recording a historic win against Brazil, Argentina’s women won the South and Central American Beach Handball Championship a year ago, with Chile finishing in the top four.

A disappointing sixth place for Brazil and seventh for Argentina then followed at Greece 2022, and both teams will be looking to show what they are capable of in Maricá.

Mexico’s women are well-established on the world beach handball stage and come to Brazil as North America and the Caribbean Handball Confederation Beach Handball Championship winners. 

As their respective continental title-holders, Argentina and Mexico will also be in Bali in August at the 2023 ANOC World Beach Games.

The IHF Beach Handball Global Tour was launched last year at the 2022 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships in Greece. It debuted in Gdansk, Poland, in July, with Croatia winning the men’s tournament and Spain taking the top spot in the women’s tournament.

2023 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour – Stage 1

Date: 26 - 30 April
Location: Maricá, Brazil
Men’s teams: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Portugal, Uruguay, United States of America
Women’s teams: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, United States of America