In what must be one of the toughest preliminary groups in recent years, Puerto Rico make their debut at an IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship and will face Brazil, Germany and Greece in their first three matches.

Their preliminary group features the South American side who won the 2006, 2012, and 2014 titles, alongside 2018 champions Greece and 2022 winners – and title-holders – Germany.

The USA made it through to China 2024 after winning the third edition of the North America and the Caribbean Handball Confederation (NACHC) Women’s Beach Handball Championship held in Puerto Rico in April. 

Despite a joint, worst-ever ranking of sixth at the 2022 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championships in Greece, the Brazil women’s team remain legends of the sport, winners of the most gold medals in a world championship (3) and total (7) having been ever-presents since making their debut at the first-ever world championship in 2004 when they also finished in sixth spot.

A joint-highest rank of seventh at the last IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship was impressive, considering the championship featured 16 teams for the first time, compared to the 12 teams when Argentina finished seventh for the first time, back in 2016 after winning the consolation round.

Paris 2024 is the fourth consecutive edition of the Olympic Games for Spain, a team that have always finished in the top 10 in the competition. But the ninth place at Tokyo 2020, three years ago, was their lowest finish in their five appearances, with the bronze medal at London 2012 being their best performance.

Since emerging as a powerhouse in the 2010s, the Netherlands have been constantly one of the best teams in the world, a status confirmed by the title secured at the 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship, when the European side delivered a vintage performance under the guidance of French coach Emmanuel Mayonnade.

Hungary women’s national team returned to the Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020 for the first time after 12 years, but their seventh place, secured after a 22:26 loss against Norway in the quarter-finals, was far from enough to fulfil the appetite for the European side, which had previously won a silver medal and two bronze medals.

The best results for Hungary came over two decades ago, when they clinched the bronze medal at Atlanta 1996 and the silver at Sydney 2000, with Hungary finishing fifth at Athens 2004, fourth at Beijing 2008 and seventh at Tokyo 2020.

Sweden have made it to the Olympic Games for the fifth consecutive edition, extending a streak started at Beijing 2008, which continued at London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. The last edition was also the most succesful one for the Scandinavian side, which finished on the fourth place, missing out on a medal by a whisker.