"We are already improving": Uruguay make long-awaited debut at the IHF Men's Youth World Championship

When the 2025 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship threw off in Cairo, 6 of October and the New Administrative Capital in Egypt, the 56th team playing in the history of the competition made their debut.

Uruguay became the fifth team in the South and Central American Handball Confederation to feature at this level, another milestone for a country which has become a regular in the IHF World Championships at every age level.

Their debut was not one in which the South American side really stood a chance, facing a two-time medallist at the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, Germany, which have finished in the top-10 in six of the seven editions they played in.

But Uruguay had the grit, the desire and the passion necessary to make the match as hard as possible for the European side, which led by two goals after 10 minutes, 7:5, five goals after 20 minutes, 12:7, and seven goals at the break, 19:12.

“It is an incredible experience to be here and to play for Uruguay and represent the country in such a competition. We qualified for the first time and we just hope to learn as much as possible and progress,” said left back Pau Enric Olivera Salvador, who featured in the second half for the Uruguayan side.

Eventually, Uruguay conceded a 22:39 loss against Germany in their opener, with the European’s side depth and talent rubbing off on the final result, but the experience gained by the South American side could be crucial for the development of these players.

Uruguay will have their work cut out in this preliminary round group, one of the toughest in the competition at Egypt, where they will also face Slovenia and the Faroe Islands, but eventually, provided they do not shock one of the European sides, they will try to secure their maiden win in the President’s Cup.

But for Olivera Salvador, this competition is even more special, as he is one of the youngest players in the Uruguay team. In fact, with an average age of 17.9 years, Uruguay is the youngest team at Egypt 2025 and five of the current crop of players are also eligible for the next edition of the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, in 2027.

“It is an incredible experience. I'd like to thank the coaching staff and everyone who made it possible for me to be here. Being two years younger than the limit, the fact that I have been given the opportunity to play in this World Championship is incredible,” says Olivera Salvador.

The left back is also the only player from Uruguay to feature in a team overseas, with all the other members of the team being based in the South American country.

Olivera Salvador was born in Spain, from an Uruguayan father and a Spanish mother, and has featured for several years in the academy of Spanish powerhouse FC Barcelona. Some videos on his Instagram account were discovered by the Uruguayan Handball Federation, but the first call-ups were delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Eventually, the left back made his debut in 2024, at the Under-16 South and Central American Championships in Paraguay, where Uruguay finished on the fourth place.

“When I tried handball for the first time when I was four or five years old, I fell in love with it and that's why I'm still playing it now and I want to become even better,” said Olivera Salvador, who is now featuring for the local team Club Handbol Sant Esteve Sesrovires.

But will Uruguay get even better?

“I think we are improving on a year-by-year basis, this is clear to be seen. We are taking it very seriously and we want to be even better. Have you seen the first half today against Germany? In the beginning it was really good for us,” concluded Olivera Salvador.