Moritz Ebert

They made it inside Europe’s top 10 in 2022, so is it possible that the upwards trajectory of the Netherlands’ men’s team in recent years can add another top 10 position at CRO/DEN/NOR 2025?

While the Netherlands' women's team are well-known for their exploits; a World or European Championship medal every year from 2015 to 2019 and three top-five Olympic Games finishes in a row (2016, 2020, 2024), the men's side are not at that level. Yet.

But they are making giant steps towards it.

Key players: Francisco Costa (right back), Martim Costa (left back), Rui Silva (centre back)

Qualification: Qualifiers Europe - phase 2 (55:45 aggregate win against Bosnia Herzegovina)

History in the competition: 1997: 19th, 2001: 16th, 2003: 12th, 2021: 10th, 2023: 13th

Group at CRO/DEN/NOR 2025: Group E (Norway, Portugal, Brazil, United States of America)

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.