Four years ago, at the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship, Austria have returned to the biggest of stages, after a 12-year wait. However, the European side subsequently finished 16th at Spain 2021 and 19th at Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023, making it to the main round, but failing to secure a top-10 finish.

Both times, the team was coached by Herbert Müller, but the long withstanding German coach left the Austrian team after two decades on the bench in 2024, being replaced by Monique Tijsterman.

In each of the last four editions of the IHF Women’s World Championship, Japan have delivered at least one surprising result, beating an European side. It was Montenegro in 2017, Romania in 2019, Croatia in 2021 and Denmark and Serbia in 2023.

Iceland’s women senior national team returns to global action for just the third time as the team find themselves in the middle of their most successful international tournament qualification series.

Their world championship debut, at Brazil 2011, got off to a winning start as they saw off Montenegro (22:21) to get their maiden victory. Despite losses against Angola and Norway, wins against 2025 group opponents Germany and then China saw them into the round of 16 where they lost to Russia.

Croatia have always been a dark horse in women’s handball, with their best string of results at the IHF Women’s World Championship being the seventh place at Brazil 2011, when they reach the quarter-finals for the first time in history, and the ninth place in 2007.

Undoubtedly, their peak was reached at the EHF EURO 2020, when the “Queens of Shock”, as they were dubbed during that competition, finished third, sealing the bronze medal with a shocking win against Denmark, in Herning.

Germany/Netherlands 2025 will be Spain’s 10th successive IHF Women’s World Championship appearance, but it comes off the back of one of their worst-ever rankings, 13th place at Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023.

That lowly place for one of Europe’s handball powerhouses was second only to their 15th place gained on their debut in 1993 and is part of a series of disappointing rankings in their last three major competition.

After winning silver on their IHF Women’s World Championship debut as Serbia – back in 2013 as hosts – the European side has failed to podium again despite being ever-presents in all five editions since.

In the last four editions of the IHF Women’s World Championship, France have reached the final three times, winning the title at Germany 2017 and Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023 and conceding the gold medal match against Norway at Spain 2021.

Therefore, the European side is one of the most consistent teams over the last two decades at the highest level, finishing on the podium six times in the last 11 editions, with three gold medals and three silver medals in that span, plus three top-7 finishes.