With 97 days until the start of the EHF Beach Handball EURO 2021, the European Handball Federation conducted the draw in Vienna on 5 April. 

Nineteen men’s teams and 18 women’s teams will take part in the event scheduled to take place in Varna, Bulgaria, between 13 and 18 July.

In the women’s competition, the 18 teams have been split into four groups, based on their beach handball ranking, with two groups of five teams and two groups of four teams. The top three teams at the end of the preliminary round will progress to the main round, with two groups of six teams.

The most balanced group in the women’s tournament is Group A, as reigning champions Denmark will face beach ranking leaders Spain and former European champions Ukraine and Italy, with Turkey completing the group.

Reigning world champions Greece have been drawn into Group D, alongside two-time European champions Russia, Poland and France.

The silver medallists at the 2018 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship, Norway, have been drawn into Group B, which will provide serious entertainment. Two-time European champions Hungary and Croatia, hosts Bulgaria and Romania complete the line-up.

In the men’s tournament, 19 teams have also been split into four groups, with three groups of five teams and one group of four teams. The best three teams are set to progress to the main round.

Former world champions Croatia have been drawn in Group C, alongside Poland, Switzerland, Sweden and hosts Bulgaria, with strong chances to proceed to the main round.

European title holders Denmark aim to retain their title, yet their path to another trophy could be challenging. Three-time European champions Spain and Norway, the silver medallists at the last EHF Beach Handball EURO, are also in Group A, with Romania and Turkey filling the other two places.

Here is the summary of the next #beacheuro2021 ?? pic.twitter.com/BC4AbWKC3r

— HomeofHandball (@HomeofHandball) April 5, 2021

Russia, the most decorated team in the history of the EHF Beach Handball EURO, will face Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands in Group D, while the bronze medallists of the last edition, Hungary, were placed into Group B alongside Ukraine, France, Italy and Greece.

One week ahead of the EHF Beach Handball EURO 2021, the Under-17 EHF Beach Handball EURO 2021 will also take place in Varna, between 8 and 11 July.

In both the women’s and men’s tournaments, six groups were drawn, with three teams each, as the winners will proceed to the main round.

Reigning champions Spain will face France and Switzerland in Group A of the women’s tournament, while Hungary, the silver medallists of the last EURO, play in Group B, alongside hosts Bulgaria and Greece.

In the men’s competition, Croatia aim to retain their title, facing Switzerland and hosts Bulgaria in Group C, while the most balanced group is set to be Group A, where Spain and the Netherlands, the teams which played the bronze-medal game at the last EURO, are joined by Sweden.

Visit the EHF website for more information.