Key players: Andrea Parisini (line player), Thomas Bortoli (right back), Domenico Ebner (goalkeeper)

Qualification: European Qualification - phase 2 (66:58 on aggregate against Montenegro)

History in the competition: 1997: 18th

Group at CRO/DEN/NOR 2025: Group B (Denmark, Italy, Algeria, Tunisia)

On Friday 26 January 2024, Guinea’s men’s team made history by qualifying for their first-ever IHF Men’s World Championship, thanks to a 29:26 victory over DR Congo in the 5/6 placement match of the 2024 CAHB Men’s African Championship.

Cape Verde come to Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025 for just their third IHF Men’s World Championship appearance after making their debut at Egypt 2021, and following it up with qualification through to Poland/Sweden 2023. 

To make it a trio of successive global events they finished fourth at their continental championships, the 2024 CAHB Men’s African Championship, held in Egypt.

Kuwait finally return to IHF Men’s World Championship action in 2025 for the first time since 2009, ending a 16-year hiatus.

At the 2024 AHF Men’s Asian Championships in Bahrain, under head coach Said Hadjazi, Kuwait arguably started with their best result and performance in recent years, defeating Oman 27:26 in their opening preliminary group game before going on to see off Chinese Taipei (31:27) and narrowly losing to continental powerhouse – and 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship preliminary group opponents – Qatar (20:24).

After a 10-year wait, Czechia will finally be back at the IHF Men’s World Championship, breaking one of the longest streaks between two appearances for an European side. Czechia also qualified for Egypt 2021, four years ago, but an unprecedent Covid-19 unbreak forced the European side to drop out of the competition and wait four more years until their return.

Poland/Sweden 2023 saw Algeria finish on the lowest position in history at the IHF Men’s World Championship, as the African side’s 16th appearance in the competition saw them seal a single win in seven matches, ending up on the 31st position, breaking a six-match losing streak in the Placement Match 31/32, with a hard-fought 34:33 win over Uruguay.

Cuba return to IHF Men’s World Championship action for the first time since 2009 after winning the NACHC Men's North America and the Caribbean Championship in Mexico last May.

Two years ago, at Poland/Sweden 2023, the United States of America delivered their biggest ever performance at the IHF Men’s World Championship. It might have not been their best finishing position in the competition, 23rd, but snapping a 23-match losing streak and winning their maiden two matches was a huge stepping stone for Robert Hedin’s side.

Sure, the American side waited nearly 50 years for this magical moment, after making their debut in 1964, failing to secure wins in their appearances in 1970, 1974, 1993, 1995 and 2001.

Germany 2007, Croatia 2009 and Qatar 2015 were the pinnacle for the Polish handball at the IHF Men’s World Championship, when Poland secured three of the four medals in their history in the world handball flagship competition – a silver in 2007 and two bronze medals in 2009 and 2015.

As a player, Kiril Lazarov was a legendary figure for North Macedonia, ensuring their best-ever finishes in both the World Championship (9th – 2015) and European Championship (5th – 2012). 

Having played for 24 years in the national team, including seven IHF Men’s World Championships (Egypt 2009 – Egypt 2021) and recording over 1,600 goals, no-one was more qualified as a player for the role of head coach for his nation, when he took over the role in February 2021, after what was then North Macedonia’s worst-ever world championship ranking – a 23rd place at Egypt 2021.