The maiden edition of the W19 EHF EURO with 24 teams at the start will throw off in Podgorica, Montenegro, on 9 July, with the top European sides, including the reigning champions at the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, Spain, at the start.

The 24 participating sides will be divided into six groups of four teams each for the preliminary round, which will take place on 9, 10 and 12 July. The winners of each group will qualify to the main round, with the two best runners-up – one from Groups A, B and C, and one from Groups D, E and F – also securing safe passage to the next phase of the competition.

Despite being the reigning world champions, the current Spain generation were assigned to Pot 3 before the draw, as they missed out on the previous edition of the W17 EHF EURO, taking part  - and winning – the second-tier competition, the W17 EHF Championships.

Both finalists at the previous edition of the W19 EHF EURO, held in Romania in 2023, Hungary and Denmark were assigned to Pot 1, while Romania, the bronze medallists, were assigned to Pot 2.

The draw produced some intense groups, with the winner of the last three editions of the European premium competition for junior teams, Hungary, being drawn into Group A, alongside Czechia, North Macedonia and Poland.

Hungary have been flawless at this age category on the continent, winning the final against the Netherlands in 2019, the final against Russia in 2021 and thoroughly outplayed Denmark, 35:26, in 2023, to secure their third title in a row.

Denmark, the runners-up in the previous edition and the runners-up at the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship with this generation, will face hosts Montenegro, Iceland and Lithuania in Group B. Group C looks to be open, with Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland and Finland vying for the main round spot reserved for the winner.

Group D looks to be one of the most balanced ones – if not the most balanced one in this event – with reigning youth world champions, Spain, which boast the MVP of the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, Belen Rodriguez, in their squad, as well as the fifth-placed side at China 2024, Germany, plus Romania and the Faroe Islands.

Two traditional powerhouses – France and Norway – spearhead Group E, alongside Portugal and Slovenia, while in Group F, Croatia, the Netherlands, Austria and Türkiye will face off for a place in the main round.

The W19 EHF EURO 2025 will take place between 9 and 20 July in Podgorica, Montenegro. With the expansion to 24 teams, there will be six groups of four teams in the preliminary round and two main round groups of four teams each. The top two teams in each main round group progress to the semi-finals.

Denmark are the team with the largest number of trophies at the W19 EHF EURO, four, having won seven medals in total in the European premium competition. Hungary, the champion of the last three editions, have the same number of trophies as Russia.

The W19 EHF EURO 2025 is also a qualification event for the 2026 IHF Women's Junior World Championship, which will take place next summer.

W19 EHF EURO 2025 - preliminary round

Group A: Hungary, Czechia, North Macedonia, Poland
Group B: Denmark, Montenegro, Iceland, Lithuania
Group C: Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland
Group D: Germany, Romania, Spain, Faroe Islands
Group E: France, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia
Group F: Croatia, Netherlands, Austria, Türkiye