With their debut appearance at the IHF Women’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship this year, Mexico’s women add their name to the list of female teams representing the North American country on the global stage.

Twice before the senior women’s team have played at an IHF Beach Handball World Championship and three times the women’s junior side have played at an IHF Women’s Junior World Championship.

Ever-presents Thailand hope for top 10 finish

Asian silver medallists Thailand are one of just three women’s nations to have appeared at all three IHF Women’s Youth Beach Handball World Championships.

Along with Netherlands and Hungary, Thailand have appeared at Mauritius 2017, Greece 2022 and are now set for Tunisia 2025, but unlike their European rivals, they have never won a medal in the event.

China women come to Tunisia as Asian champions, having won the third edition of the Asian Handball Federation (AHF) Women’s Youth Asian Beach Handball Championships last year.

At the event, which took place at the Sports Authority of Thailand courts in Hua Mak, Bangkok from 16 to 25 October, the Chinese women were dominant as they went on to win their second title in three editions.

Last December, Uruguay’s women pulled off a big upset, beating Brazil at the 2024 South and Central American Handball Confederation (SCAHC) Youth (U17) Women’s Beach Handball Championships in Chile.

The result, combined with wins against Chile and Paraguay, plus a loss to Argentina, meant that the Uruguayans ended the round-robin tournament joint top with six points, alongside rivals Argentina and Brazil – the two powerhouses of South American beach handball.

Whatever happens in Tunisia, the German involvement – which also includes their men’s team – is integral to continue the rise of the sport in a country traditionally linked to the seven-a-side ‘indoor’ version.

“It has been a great goal for the German Handball Federation over the last decade to develop a strong and successful youth education in beach handball,” explained Jens Pfander, Head of Beach Handball at the German Handball Federation, to ihf.info.

Brazil come to Tunisia as South and Central America champions, having won the 2024 SCAHC Women’s Beach Handball Championship held in Chile last December.

A tie at the end of the round-robin competition Argentina miss out on qualifying for Tunisia, finishing behind Uruguay in second on set difference.

Hungary come to the 2025 IHF Women’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship with one of the best histories in the competition, having won the debut edition, at Mauritius 2017 and finishing in fourth, last time out, at Greece 2022 after a shock shoot-out loss to the surprise package Poland.

Only the Dutch women can boast a better youth world championship record in either gender, having finished second both times.

Croatia’s women return to IHF Women’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship action after making their debut at Mauritius 2017 when they finished ninth.

After missing the 2022 edition in Greece, they are now back on the global stage thanks to their bronze won last year at the YAC 16 EURO. 

France come to Tunisia as the second-best team on their continent, having taken silver at the YAC 16 EURO in Bulgaria last year.

At the Tunisia 2025 preliminary group draw, France were drawn against three teams from three different continent, in Brazil, Thailand and Tanzania, so all three of their initial games will be firsts for this generation of French ladies.

The Dutch women’s youth team are the most successful in either gender of the IHF Men’s and Women’s Youth Beach Handball World Championships.

Two, consecutive silver medals at the 2017 and 2022 editions highlights the consistency of qualify coming from the northern European country.

And their 2025 side has already shown the quality of the 2008 and 2009 generation, coming to Tunisia 2025 as European champions, having won the 2024 YAC 16 EURO in Bulgaria.