After defending their North America and the Caribbean Handball Confederation (NACHC) title in Carolina, Puerto Rico in April, the United States of America men could look towards their China 2024 campaign with positivity.

Little did they know at the time, but their appearance at the opening stage of the 2024 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour in Marica, Brazil the following month would help in their preparations for the global event.

Three of the four teams they would play in Brazil – Germany, Qatar and Uruguay – would complete their China 2024 preliminary group.

Overview: While Brazil’s continental and regional dominance is secure – already this year they have won their continental championship and opening stage of the 2024 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour – their global dominance has wavered in recent years.

However, with a galaxy of stars on the sand and a winning culture and mentality, Brazil’s men go into China 2024 as one of the favourites.

Uruguay ended the last IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship distraught – their 5/6 placement match loss against Qatar at Greece 2022 costing them a spot at the then planned 2022 ANOC World Beach Games, set to take place in Bali.

After losing their opener against Croatia (0-2) on the Greek sand in Heraklion two years ago, they surprised many - if not themselves - when they took down Spain 2-1 in their second match, swiftly followed by a 2-0 victory over debutants Ecuador.

For the fourth time in history, Slovenia men’s senior national team qualified for the Olympic Games, confirming their status as one of the most consistent teams in Europe, constantly bringing new and talented players to the fore. However, Slovenia’s best performance has been the sixth place at Rio 2016, finishing eighth at Sydney 2000 and 11th at Athens 2004.

A perennial contender at the Olympic Games, where Germany have already secured four medals, including the title in 1936, the European powerhouse will make its 12th appearance from 15 editions, after securing the second place in the Paris 2024 Men’s Olympic Qualification Tournament #2, which they hosted in Hanover.

In the first two appearances at the Olympic Games – Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004 – Croatia won the gold medal, consolidating their status as a superpower in men’s handball. In fact, Croatia made the semi-finals of the Olympic competition in four out of their five appearances, finishing fourth at Beijing 2008 and sealing the bronze medal at London 2012.

Spain have been a powerhouse in men’s handball over the last two decades, delivering consistent performances at major international competitions. Since 1996, when they secured their first medal at the Olympic Games, they went on to clinch 18 medals at the IHF Men’s World Championship, the Olympic Games and the EHF EURO.

Hungary have been one of the most consistent teams at the Olympic Games, placing in the top-10 in each of the eight editions they took part in so far. But Paris 2024 marks the return of the European team for the first time since London 2012, when they finished fourth, a long absence from the Olympics for Hungary.

For the first time in history, Norway have clinched back-to-back appearances at the Olympic Games, after finishing seventh at Tokyo 2020. This only the third time when the Norway men’s team qualified for the competition, after ending ninth in 1972, but they are aiming for another quarter-finals berth, like in the previous edition.