The IHF Council has awarded the two available wild cards for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship to Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, thereby completing the 32-team line-up for the 30th edition of the men’s flagship event.

With the final line-up for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship confirmed, the 32 teams will now learn their preliminary round opponents following the draw on Wednesday, 10 June, at 18:00 CET in Munich.

The decision of  the recipient of the wild cards for major events takes into account the broader contribution of the national federations to the growth and visibility of the sport, as well as focusing on the development of handball throughout the Globe. For the 2027 edition, the IHF received 13 applications for the two available wild card spots, underlining the strong global interest in participating in the men's flagship event.

Türkiye will take part in the IHF Men’s World Championship for the first time in their history. The European side will now have the opportunity to continue its development on the world stage and measure itself against the strongest teams in international handball. Türkiye's participation is also expected to have a significant resonance beyond the court, with an estimated 3.5 million Turkish-rooted people living in Germany - the host country - set to follow the team's debut at the tournament with great enthusiasm.

Türkiye has continued to invest in the development of handball, with growing interest in the sport and increasing participation at various levels. Their presence at the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship will provide an important platform for the team to further strengthen its competitiveness.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, remains one of the leading nations in the development of handball in Asia. Their inclusion in the competition reflects both their sporting profile and the continued progress of the game in the country.

Saudi Arabia will also return to the World Championship stage, marking their 11th appearance at the competition, with their last appearance coming in 2023. The team has steadily built its international profile and will use the tournament as a valuable opportunity to continue its progress at the highest level.

With the two wild cards now confirmed, the line-up for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship is close to completion, with the draw set to determine the route to the title.

2027 IHF Men's World Championship - pots

Pot 1: Denmark, Germany, Croatia, Iceland, Portugal, Sweden, Egypt, Argentina
Pot 2: France, Slovenia, Norway, Serbia, Spain, Italy, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia
Pot 3: Greece, Poland, Brazil, Bahrain, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Chile, United States of America
Pot 4: Qatar, Kuwait, Japan, Algeria, Angola, Uruguay, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia