2025 will be remembered as one of the most spectacular in world handball, with every major IHF event delivering records, emotions and unforgettable stories. 

The men’s flagship tournament set the tone in January, as Denmark completed an unprecedented four‑peat at the 29th IHF Men’s World Championship in Denmark, Croatia and Norway, extending an extraordinary unbeaten streak and raising the bar once again for excellence at the elite level. 

Later in the year, the women’s edition in the Netherlands and Germany showcased the depth and globalisation of the sport, with 32 teams, 108 matches and more than 350,000 fans in the arenas, while attacking handball pushed scoring to an all‑time high average of 64 goals per game. 

The younger age category events also shone, as the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship in Egypt produced one of the best finals in history and a new scoring record, confirming that the next generation is more talented and better prepared than ever before. From packed arenas to dazzling individual performances, 2025 underlined that handball’s global momentum is stronger than ever.

But let’s see what happened throughout the year.

 

Historic run sets Denmark apart

Denmark etched their name deeper into handball immortality at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, clinching an unprecedented fourth consecutive title with a commanding 32:26 final victory over co-hosts Croatia. The Scandinavians extended their extraordinary unbeaten streak to 37 matches - 35 wins and two draws - surpassing all previous records and confirming their status as the undisputed champions. Nine straight wins, seven by double digits, showcased a blend of ruthless attack, impenetrable defence and flawless execution, even without retired legends like Mikkel Hansen and Niklas Landin, who said goodbye to the national team after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Portugal delivered a stunning breakthrough, storming to fourth place - their best-ever Worlds finish - with gritty wins over Germany and Norway highlighting their rising power and tactical maturity under coach Paulo Pereira, as fantastic young players such as Francisco Costa and Martim Costa dominated on the court. Co-host Croatia, as plucky underdogs, captured silver and returned to the podium for the first time since 2013.

At the heart of Denmark’s triumph stood Mathias Gidsel, the tournament MVP and top scorer with a staggering 74 goals from 107 shots (69% efficiency). The right back’s dominance was total: 10 goals from 11 attempts in the final alone propelled Denmark to glory, while his 45 assists underscored his all-around brilliance. Gidsel’s fourth major MVP award – after the two Olympics ones and the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship one - cemented his legacy as the world’s premier player.

 

Great Britain writes their own piece of history

Great Britain made history at the 2025 IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship, claiming their first-ever title in the competition and showcasing the impressive progress of their national programme. Held in Varna, Bulgaria, the competition brought together developing handball nations from five continents across the globe, offering a valuable competitive platform and exposure on the international stage. 

Great Britain were the most consistent team throughout the event, culminating in a decisive victory over hosts Bulgaria in the final, avenging a 22:35 loss in the preliminary round. The British side took a 29:25 win, and secured a podium finish at the IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship for the first time in history, after ending fourth in 2019 as their best finish.

 

Spain stun opponents on Tunisian sandy courts

The 2025 IHF Youth Beach Handball World Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia, delivered a spectacular showcase of youth talent. Featuring 32 teams - 16 men’s and 16 women’s sides - representing all six continental confederations, the competition once again reaffirmed the truly global nature of beach handball’s development.

Spain emerged as the dominant force, achieving a remarkable double triumph by winning gold in both the men’s and women’s competitions. Their success confirmed the strength of Spain’s youth programmes and their long-standing tradition of excellence on the sand. The Spanish men’s team displayed flair and tactical precision, overcoming Germany in a thrilling final, while the women’s team showed composure and resilience to defeat Germany and win their second world title in three editions.

 

Dreamland for the Faroe Islands

Denmark delivered a masterclass in depth and consistency to claim their fourth IHF Men’s Junior World Championship title at the 2025 edition in Poland, defeating Portugal 29:26 in the final. Their unbeaten run featured remarkable squad rotation, with at least 11 different scorers in six of their first seven matches, showcasing an offensive versatility that overwhelmed opponents.

The Faroe Islands etched their name in handball history by securing their first-ever medal in a major international competition, the bronze, after a thrilling semi-final run, highlighted by standout performances from MVP Óli Mittún. As a wild card entry, they pushed Portugal to the brink in the semis before falling in a last-gasp finish in extra-time in the semi-finals, then triumphed the bronze medal match against Sweden.

Mittún, the tournament's top scorer and All-Star centre back, dominated the competition with 73 goals and 54 assists, leading a fearless squad that stunned traditional powers.

 

Record-setting Youth World Championship in Egypt

Germany pulled off an absolute thriller to win the 2025 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship in Egypt, beating Spain in the first-ever penalty shootout final of an IHF World Championship, 41:40. Tied 36:36 after extra time, Germany held their nerve in the shootout, winning 5-4 thanks to goalkeeper Finn Knaack's two huge saves and Anel Durmic's clutch stop on the decider. Down by three goals late in extra time, the German side roared back with pure grit, capping a Cinderella run that had fans on the edge of their seats.

The tournament's electric peak? Egypt vs Spain in the quarters drew a jaw-dropping 22,150 fans to Cairo Stadium Hall 1 - smashing the Youth Worlds attendance record. Spain clawed back from behind to win 31-29 amid deafening roars, but those scenes showed handball fever gripping Egypt like never before.

 

Argentina seal unprecedented gold at the World Games 

Germany and Argentina lit up Chengdu's Xinglong Lake at The World Games 2025, each claiming historic gold in men's and women's beach handball amid non-stop drama and shootout magic.

Germany scripted their maiden title, mastering penalties in every knockout: 2:1 over Denmark (quarter-finals), Brazil (semifinals), and a gripping 2:1 final vs newcomers Portugal - capped by an 8-6 shootout epic hailed as one of The World Games' best ever. Brazil nabbed bronze 2-1 over Spain.

Argentina went flawless through groups and knockouts, stunning reigning champs Germany 2:1 in the final (lost first set 14:20, dominated the second 22:12, and prevailed in the shootout 7:2). Stars like MVP Lucila Balsas, Gisella Bonomi, and Fiorella Corimberto shone.

 

FC Barcelona back on top

FC Barcelona proved once again why they're handball royalty, storming to their record-extending sixth IHF Men's Club World Championship title in Egypt amid a pulsating final against Veszprem HC.

Teams from all six continents converged in Egypt for the 2025 showdown, blending European heavyweights with rising challengers from Africa, Asia, North America and the Caribbean, South and Central America and Oceania. Egyptian powerhouse Al-Ahly, which won bronze in 2024, pushed hard but fell short, while the diverse field kept upsets coming and showcased handball's worldwide surge.

For the fourth straight year, the decider needed overtime drama, with Barca edging Veszprem 31:30 after extra time in a nail-biter, sealing their maiden title in six years, with goalkeeper Emil Nielsen saving 27 shots throughout the match for an otherworldly 49% saving efficiency.

 

New competition showcases youth talent

This first-ever IHF Men’s Under-17 World Championship used resin-free balls for a cleaner, faster game and rolled out fresh rules for the competition: no defensive player substitutions and a ban on seven-on-six attacks to sharpen defence skills. The tweaks injected non-stop intensity, rewarding quick decisions and tactical nous.

Hosted in Morocco with teams from across five continents, the competition provided incredible drama, especially in the final. Germany edged past Egypt in a dramatic extra-time decider, drawing a staggering 31,000 live viewers on the IHF YouTube channel - an unprecedented peak for youth handball streaming. Down and out at times, Germany rallied with raw talent and unbreakable spirit, turning the match into pure edge-of-your-seat stuff that had global fans buzzing.

 

Brazil dominate at the 2025 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour

The 2025 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour hit its stride in its fourth edition, blazing across Tunisia, Spain, and Brazil to spotlight the sport's explosive global boom. Stages on three continents drew teams from four, packing beaches with acrobatic thrills and nail-biting shootouts all year long.

Croatia kicked off the men's action in Hammamet, Tunisia (Stage 1), edging Spain in a shootout final after topping Egypt and Tunisia. Spain flipped the script in Laredo (Stage 2), crushing Portugal for home gold. But Brazil owned the João Pessoa Finals, rebounding from an early Spain loss to smash Croatia and Argentina en route to a dominant 2-0 men's final win (24:22, 14:11) - never truly threatened on home sand.

Women's side saw Spain dominate Stage 1 (beating Greece) and Stage 2 (topping Poland 2-0). Brazil's unstoppable women then swept the Finals undefeated, downing Poland, Spain, and Argentina before sealing a third straight title with a tense 2-0 women's final victory (17:16, 22:16).

 

Fabulous Norway crowned again 

Norway crowned a golden generation at the 27th IHF Women’s World Championship, lifting a record-extending fifth world title after a gritty 23:20 win over co-hosts Germany in Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena. Co-hosted by Germany and the Netherlands, the event also set a new all-time attendance record, with 354,029 spectators in the arenas before the final day, underlining the explosive growth of elite women’s handball.

Katrine Lunde delivered a farewell worthy of her legendary status, anchoring Norway’s defence with a masterclass between the posts, being selected in the All-Star team of the competition. The 45-year-old finished the final with 14 saves and a 41% save rate, having hovered around 50% throughout the tournament, and was symbolically called forward by captain Henny Reistad to lift the trophy with her.

Reistad, meanwhile, confirmed her status as the tournament’s superstar, being named MVP and top scorer with 55 goals as she drove Norway through the preliminary and main rounds, as well as the knockout phases with trademark power and timing. Her leadership and clutch scoring in tight moments defined Norway’s run and added another chapter to her growing legacy.