2024 has been a year with ups and downs for Spain, which saw Jordi Ribera’s side experience all the possible emotions, from the disappointment of missing out of a main round spot at the EHF EURO 2024, to the exhilarating trip to the bronze medal match at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where Spain secured a place on the podium.

Still, Spain had an aging squad and Ribera did not have many solutions at his disposal, as “Los Hispanos” are now embarking on a new journey, with the definite objective of competing for another medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Since returning to the IHF Men’s World Championship in 1995, after a 37-year wait, Brazil have been always part of the competition, with Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025 seeing the South American powerhouse clinch their 16th consecutive appearance in the world handball flagship competition.

However, Brazil have made the top-10 only once, at Denmark/Germany 2019, when they made the main round, won five out of their eight matches and ended up on the ninth place, following with a 18th place at Egypt 2021 and a 17th place at Poland/Sweden 2023.

It seems that every time a tournament comes around for France, we are either talking about a legend retiring and/or and a new generation coming through.

Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025 is no different, with France now living in a post-Nikola Karabatic era, following the retirement of the legendary French captain and centre back after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, joined in international retirement by Vincent Gérard, Valentin Porte and Timothey N'Guessan.

An unprecedented 28-match unbeaten streak, three world titles in a row and a domination which has never been seen at this level in the history of the IHF Men’s World Championship.

When Denmark take on the court in the Jyske Bank Boxen for the first time at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, featuring against Algeria, the reigning world champions would have not lost a match in the competition for nearly eight years.

A three-time world champion, most recently in 2007, Germany have always been perennial contenders at the IHF Men’s World Championship, but they are still searching for the first medal since lifting the trophy 17 years ago.