The host nation's men’s team are fresh off of a 12th-place finish at the 2022 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship in Greece last month.

While the final ranking could only equal their 2018 finish, it was not surprising with key and experienced players missing on the sand in Heraklion for various reasons.

Qatar were shocked at the end of March when Islamic Republic of Iran beat them in the final game of the Asian championships to take the continental title and book a place at The World Games but with Iran declining to participate, Qatar received their qualification spot.

The Puerto Rican beach handball community have had a whirlwind four weeks. 

Firstly, their women’s youth team became the first ever from the country to appear at an IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship, at the youth event in Greece in June.

The New Zealand men come to Birmingham as continental champions after winning the Oceania Continent Handball Federation (OCHF) Men’s Oceania Beach Handball Championships in April. 
 
New Zealand broke the stranglehold of the Aussie men on Oceania sand, winning the series 2-1 to register their first-ever continental crown.