Alberto Suarez believes “the competitive spirit and the defensive strength” are the best weapons Spain will present in North Macedonia. And to become world champions they will have to intensify them.

Suarez and Spain were close to claiming the trophy at the last IHF Men’s Youth World Championship in Georgia two years ago. This new generation has the same ambitions. “Spain always dream of the highest, therefore our goal is to try and win the World Championship,” affirms the coach. “Our work and also the work from our opponents will put us in the place we deserve.”

The youth side of Egypt will be hoping to replicate the success of their junior team who won bronze at the IHF Men’s Junior World Championship in Spain last month, ending a 20-year wait for a medal in the competition.

However, their record in the youth competition is poor despite appearing in all seven editions. Their fifth place finish in both 2007 and 2011 remains their best ranking and with two 14th places and a 15th spot in their last three editions, recent history appears to suggest it will be a struggle in Skopje.

There is no team more successful at the IHF Men’s Youth (U19) World Championship than Denmark – even the fact that they are one of just five teams to have participated in every edition since the championship launched in 2005 is impressive. However, Denmark have also won the title three times, to be the record winners. Counting their bronze medal at Georgia 2017, Denmark tally a total of four medals to top this ranking alongside Croatia. 

Two years ago, Croatia lost the bronze medal at the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship in heart-breaking fashion – with Denmark scoring a last-second fast break that won them the match by one goal. That defeat followed a close loss to Spain in the semi-final, after a strong campaign that brought them to the medal round. 

Coach Alberto Galina is certain about the skills of his team, which Brazil showed off at the 2019 Men’s Youth South and Central American Championship, which took place in Taubate from 8-12 May.

Canada travel to North Macedonia as debutants at the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, following their victory at the IHF Trophy - North America and the Caribbean (continental phase) in November last year. At the IHF Trophy for their region, Canada defeated Mexico in the final to earn their place at North Macedonia 2019. In the group stage, they beat Guadeloupe and Mexico a first time, but lost to Martinique. 

Bahrain’s team in Skopje is set to feature six players who appeared at last month’s IHF Men’s Junior World Championship in Spain where they finished in 17th place under coach Halldór Jóhann Sigfússon, who will also oversee the youth team in North Macedonia.

North Macedonia 2019 is the final global competition for Japan ahead of a big 12 months for handball in the Asian country, with the upcoming 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship in Kumamoto and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The U19 men’s side will be looking to make the second round of the Youth World Championship after finding themselves in a group with continental rivals Bahrain – who they lost to in the final of the 2018 AHF Men’s Asian Youth Championship – as well as debutants Nigeria, hosts North Macedonia, South American side Argentina and the strong Danes.

Like their group rivals Canada, Chinese Taipei are appearing at their first-ever IHF Men’s Youth World Championship. They clinched their ticket to Skopje after winning bronze at the 8th AHF Men’s Asian Youth Championship in Amman, Jordan last September beating fellow North Macedonia 2019 team, Saudi Arabia narrowly, 29:26.

But more success was to come for the young side as they won another medal seven months later, with gold at the 2018/19 IHF Men’s Trophy Intercontinental Phase held in Pristina, Kosovo last April.