2025 World Women's Handball Championship

2025 World Women's Handball Championship

Tournament details
Host countries	Germany Netherlands
Dates	26 November – 14 December
Teams	32 (from 5 confederations)
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The 2025 IHF World Women's Handball Championship will be 27th edition of the championship to be jointly hosted by Germany and the Netherlands under the aegis of International Handball Federation (IHF) from 26 November to 14 December 2025. It will be fourth time in history that the championship is jointly hosted. ^[1] "Catch the Dream" will be the official motto of the competition. ^[2]

France are the defending world champions, having won the 2023 edition.

Bidding process

On 11 October 2018, the IHF announced the bidders for the championship. ^[3]

•   South Korea
•   Serbia

However, for unknown reasons, both bids quietly withdrew. On 25 September 2019, the next bids were as follows: ^{[4] [5]}

•   Germany and   Netherlands

On 28 February 2020, the tournament was awarded to Germany and Netherlands unopposed at its meeting held in Cairo, Egypt. ^{[6] [7]}

Venues

Germany

On 16 May 2022, the German Handball Association (DHB) presented the German venues: ^[8]

Dortmund Stuttgart Trier		Dortmund	Stuttgart	Trier
		Westfalenhalle Capacity: 12,000	Porsche-Arena Capacity: 6,200	Trier Arena Capacity: 5,400

Netherlands

On 5 April 2023 the Netherlands Handball Association presented the Dutch venues: ^{[2] [9]}

's-Hertogenbosch Rotterdam		Rotterdam	's-Hertogenbosch
		Rotterdam Ahoy Capacity: 16,000	Maaspoort Capacity: 3,500

Rejected venues [7]
Bietigheim-Bissingen	Düsseldorf
EgeTrans Arena	PSD Bank Dome
Capacity: 4,494	Capacity: 15,151
Heidelberg	Krefeld
SNP Dome	Yayla Arena
Capacity: 4,134	Capacity: 7,714
Oberhausen	Amsterdam
Rudolf Weber-Arena	Sporthallen Zuid
Capacity: 10,300	Capacity: 3,000
Eindhoven	Maastricht
Indoor-Sportcentrum Eindhoven	MECC Maastricht
Capacity: 6,500	Capacity: 12,000

Qualification

Main article: 2025 World Women's Handball Championship qualification

The World Championship hosts will be directly qualified, along with the reigning world champions. Since there are two organisers, all from Europe, the number of compulsory places for Europe is reduced by one: 3 instead of default 4. The number of compulsory places awarded to other continental confederation remains unchanged. In regards to the 12 performance spots, and based on the results of the 2023 Women's World Championship, Europe receives 11 more spots, while South and Central America takes 1.

The slot allocation is as follows:

• AHF (Asia): 4 slots
• CAHB (Africa): 4 slots
• EHF (Europe): 17 slots (including the two co-hosts and defending champion)
• NACHC (North America and the Caribbean): 1 slot
• OCHF (Oceania): 0 slots
• SCAHC (South and Central America): 4 slots
• Wildcards: 2 slots

Detailed summary of qualification process
Confederation	Direct slots	Teams started	Teams eliminated	Teams qualified	Percentage of entered teams with spots in finals	Qualifying start date	Qualifying end date
AHF	4	8	4	4+1	50%	3 December 2024	10 December 2024
CAHB	4	12	8	4	33%	27 November 2024	7 December 2024
EHF [A]	15+2	34+2	19	15+2+1	44.11%	24 October 2024	13 April 2025
NACHC	1	5	4	1	20%	7 April 2025	12 April 2025
OCHF [B]	0 or 1	0 [C]	0	0	0%
SCAHC	4	8	4	4	50%	26 November 2024	26 April 2025
Total	28+2+2	14+2	24	28+2+2		24 October 2024	13 April 2025

Qualifying occurred between October 2024 and April 2025. Each region's continental championships acted as world championship qualification, although Europe also has its own qualification process. With the exception of Belarus and Russia, who are banned of the IHF due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, all remaining IHF member associations were eligible to enter qualification.

Egypt, Faroe Islands and Switzerland will make their debut at the championship, with the Faroe Islands becoming the smallest nation to ever qualify, overtaking Greenland. Of the returnees, after receiving a wildcard, Uruguay return for the first time since 2011. Cuba came back after their last appearance was in 2019. Tunisia, return after missing out on 2023. Paraguay advanced to three consecutive finals for the first time. Iceland and Senegal qualified for two consecutive finals for the first time. Originally, China failed to qualify after finishing outside the top four at the Asian Championship, however, they were belatedly given a wildcard, continuing run of making every world championship since 1986. ^[10]

Notable absentees include Slovenia whose last failure to qualify was 2015, while Cameroon and Congo both failed to qualify having participated at the previous two championships. 2023 participants, Greenland, couldn't qualify after failing to enter the 2025 Nor.Ca. Women's Handball Championship for financial reasons. ^{[11] [12]} Chile failed to qualify after taking part in 2023.

AHF (4+1)   China WC   Iran   Japan   Kazakhstan   South Korea CAHB (4)   Angola   Egypt   Senegal   Tunisia

EHF [D] (17)   Austria   Croatia WC   Czech Republic   Denmark   Faroe Islands   France   Germany (co-host)   Hungary   Iceland   Montenegro   Netherlands (co-host)   Norway   Poland   Romania

Serbia   Spain    Switzerland   Sweden NACHC (1)   Cuba OCHF (0) None qualified SCAHC (4) [E]   Argentina   Brazil   Paraguay   Uruguay

Team qualified   Team failed to qualify   Team withdrew or suspended   Did not enter

Wildcards

After no Oceanian team achieved a top 5 finish in the Asian Championship, two wildcards were given out by the IHF.

•   China
•   Croatia

On 31 March 2025, China was given the first wildcard due to good performances and country's position, making it a big market for the sport. ^[10]

The United States were provisionally given a wildcard, so the team could use this opportunity to prepare for the 2028 Summer Olympics which they will be hosting. ^{[13] [14]} However, their lack of progress led the IHF to choose a different wildcard. Later on, four countries applied.

After their play off loss to Serbia, Slovenia's coach, Dragan Adžić, stated that his team deserved the last wildcard. ^[15]

On 12 May 2025, Croatia was given the second wildcard. ^[16]

Qualified teams

Team	Qualification method	Date of qualification	App	First	Last	Streak	Best placement in tournament
Germany	Co-hosts	28 February 2020	16th	1993	2023	12	Champions (1993)
Netherlands			15th	1971		8	Champions (2019)
France	Defending champion	17 December 2023	17th	1986		15	Champions (2003, 2017, 2023)
Argentina	2024 Central and South American Championship	29 November 2024	13th	1999		12	Sixteenth place (2019)
Brazil			16th	1995		16	Champions (2013)
Uruguay		30 November 2024	6th	1997	2011	1	Twentieth place (2011)
Tunisia	2024 African Championship	4 December 2024	11th	1975	2021	1	Twelfth place (1975)
Angola			18th	1990	2023	18	Seventh place (2007)
Senegal			3rd	2019		2	Eighteenth place (2019, 2023)
Egypt			1st	Debut
South Korea	2024 Asian Championship	6 December 2024	21st	1978	2023	21	Champions (1995)
Kazakhstan			8th	2007		4	Eighteenth place (2007)
Japan			22nd	1962		16	Seventh place (1965)
Iran			3rd	2021		3	31st place (2021, 2023)
Hungary	2024 European Championship	8 December 2024	25th	1957		7	Champions (1965)
Norway		9 December 2024	23rd	1971		20	Champions (1999, 2011, 2015, 2021)
Denmark		11 December 2024		1957		9	Champions (1997)
China	Wildcard	31 March 2025	19th	1986		19	Eighth place (1990)
Iceland	European qualification	10 April 2025	3rd	2011		2	Twelfth place (2011)
Montenegro		12 April 2025	8th			8	Fifth place (2019)
Poland			18th	1957		3	Fourth place (2013, 2015)
Cuba	2025 Nor.Ca. Handball Championship		5th	1999	2019	1	21st place (1999, 2019)
Spain	European qualification	13 April 2025	13th	1993	2023	10	Runners-up (2019)
Faroe Islands			1st	Debut
Switzerland			1st	Debut
Sweden			13th	1957	2023	6	Fourth place (2017, 2023)
Romania			27th			27	Champions (1962)
Serbia			7th	2001		7	Runners-up (2013)
Czech Republic			10th	1995		3	Eighth place (2017, 2023)
Austria			15th	1957		3	Third place (1999)
Paraguay	South and Central American Last Chance Qualifier	26 April 2025	6th	2007		3	21st place (2013, 2017)
Croatia	Wildcard	12 May 2025	9th	1995		3	Sixth place (1997)

Draw

The Noordbrabants Museum in 's-Hertogenbosch hosted the draw.

The draw took place at 18:00 CET in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands on 22 May 2025 at the Noordbrabants Museum. ^{[17] [18] [19]} The guests for the draw were former German goalkeeper, Clara Woltering, and Dutch internationals, Debbie Bont, and former captain, Danick Snelder.

Team allocation

In addition, six teams were pre-assigned by the three host nations into each of the available vacant groups: ^[20]

Teams	Group
Denmark	A
Hungary	B
Germany	C
Faroe Islands	D
Netherlands	E
France	F
Sweden	G
Norway	H

Seeding

The seeding was announced on 14 May 2025. ^[21]

Pot 1	Pot 2	Pot 3	Pot 4
France   Norway   Denmark   Hungary   Sweden   Netherlands   Germany   Montenegro	Poland   Brazil   Serbia   Romania    Switzerland   Spain   Austria   Angola	Czech Republic   Japan   Senegal   Iceland   Argentina   Faroe Islands   South Korea   Tunisia	Egypt   Uruguay   Kazakhstan   Paraguay   Iran   Cuba   China   Croatia

Preliminary round

The schedule was announced on 21 November 2024. ^[22]

All times are local (UTC+1). ^[23]

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Denmark	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Main round
2	Romania	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Japan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Croatia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Presidents Cup

First match(es) will be played: 27 November 2025. Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.

27 November 2025 18:00	Romania	v	Croatia	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

27 November 2025 20:30	Denmark	v	Japan	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

---

29 November 2025 18:00	Romania	v	Japan	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

29 November 2025 20:30	Croatia	v	Denmark	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

---

1 December 2025 18:00	Japan	v	Croatia	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

1 December 2025 20:30	Denmark	v	Romania	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Hungary	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Main round
2	Switzerland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Senegal	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Iran	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Presidents Cup

First match(es) will be played: 27 November 2025. Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.

27 November 2025 18:00	Switzerland	v	Iran	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

27 November 2025 20:30	Hungary	v	Senegal	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

---

29 November 2025 18:00	Switzerland	v	Senegal	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

29 November 2025 20:30	Iran	v	Hungary	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

---

1 December 2025 18:00	Senegal	v	Iran	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

1 December 2025 20:30	Hungary	v	Switzerland	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Germany (H)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Main round
2	Serbia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Iceland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Uruguay	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Presidents Cup

First match(es) will be played: 26 November 2025. Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
(H) Hosts

26 November 2025 18:00	Germany	v	Iceland	Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart

26 November 2025 20:30	Serbia	v	Uruguay	Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart

---

28 November 2025 18:00	Uruguay	v	Germany	Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart

28 November 2025 20:30	Serbia	v	Iceland	Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart

---

30 November 2025 18:00	Germany	v	Serbia	Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart

30 November 2025 20:30	Iceland	v	Uruguay	Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart

Group D

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Montenegro	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Main round
2	Spain	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Faroe Islands	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Paraguay	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Presidents Cup

First match(es) will be played: 26 November 2025. Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.

26 November 2025 18:00	Spain	v	Paraguay	Trier Arena, Trier

26 November 2025 20:30	Montenegro	v	Faroe Islands	Trier Arena, Trier

---

28 November 2025 18:00	Paraguay	v	Montenegro	Trier Arena, Trier

28 November 2025 20:30	Spain	v	Faroe Islands	Trier Arena, Trier

---

30 November 2025 15:30	Faroe Islands	v	Paraguay	Trier Arena, Trier

30 November 2025 18:00	Montenegro	v	Spain	Trier Arena, Trier

Group E

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Netherlands (H)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Main round
2	Austria	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Argentina	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Egypt	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Presidents Cup

First match(es) will be played: 28 November 2025. Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
(H) Hosts

28 November 2025 18:00	Austria	v	Egypt	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

28 November 2025 20:30	Netherlands	v	Argentina	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

---

30 November 2025 18:00	Austria	v	Argentina	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

30 November 2025 20:30	Egypt	v	Netherlands	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

---

2 December 2025 18:00	Argentina	v	Egypt	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

2 December 2025 20:30	Netherlands	v	Austria	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

Group F

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	France	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Main round
2	Poland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Tunisia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	China	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Presidents Cup

First match(es) will be played: 28 November 2025. Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.

28 November 2025 18:00	Poland	v	China	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

28 November 2025 20:30	France	v	Tunisia	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

---

30 November 2025 15:30	Poland	v	Tunisia	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

30 November 2025 18:00	China	v	France	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

---

2 December 2025 18:00	Tunisia	v	China	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

2 December 2025 20:30	France	v	Poland	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

Group G

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Sweden	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Main round
2	Brazil	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Czech Republic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Cuba	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Presidents Cup

First match(es) will be played: 27 November 2025. Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.

27 November 2025 18:00	Brazil	v	Cuba	Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart

27 November 2025 20:30	Sweden	v	Czech Republic	Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart

---

29 November 2025 18:00	Brazil	v	Czech Republic	Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart

29 November 2025 20:30	Cuba	v	Sweden	Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart

---

1 December 2025 18:00	Czech Republic	v	Cuba	Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart

1 December 2025 20:30	Sweden	v	Brazil	Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart

Group H

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Norway	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Main round
2	Angola	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	South Korea	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Kazakhstan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Presidents Cup

First match(es) will be played: 27 November 2025. Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.

27 November 2025 18:00	Angola	v	Kazakhstan	Trier Arena, Trier

27 November 2025 20:30	Norway	v	South Korea	Trier Arena, Trier

---

29 November 2025 18:00	Angola	v	South Korea	Trier Arena, Trier

29 November 2025 20:30	Kazakhstan	v	Norway	Trier Arena, Trier

---

1 December 2025 18:00	South Korea	v	Kazakhstan	Trier Arena, Trier

1 December 2025 20:30	Norway	v	Angola	Trier Arena, Trier

Presidents Cup

Group I

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	A4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	25th place game
2	B4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	27th place game
3	C4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	29th place game
4	D4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	31st place game

First match(es) will be played: 4 December 2025. Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.

4 December 2025	A4	v	B4	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

4 December 2025	C4	v	D4	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

---

6 December 2025	A4	v	C4	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

6 December 2025	B4	v	D4	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

---

8 December 2025	D4	v	A4	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

8 December 2025	B4	v	C4	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

Group II

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	E4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	25th place game
2	F4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	27th place game
3	G4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	29th place game
4	H4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	31st place game

First match(es) will be played: 4 December 2025. Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.

4 December 2025	E4	v	F4	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

---

4 December 2025	G4	v	H4	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

---

6 December 2025	E4	v	G4	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

6 December 2025	F4	v	H4	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

---

8 December 2025	H4	v	E4	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

8 December 2025	F4	v	G4	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

31st place game

10 December 2025	I4	v	II4	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

29th place game

10 December 2025	I3	v	II3	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

27th place game

10 December 2025	I2	v	II2	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

25th place game

10 December 2025	I1	v	II1	Maaspoort, 's-Hertogenbosch

Main round

All points obtained in the preliminary round against teams that advance as well are carried over.

Group I

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	A1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Quarterfinals
2	B1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	A2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	B2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	A3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	B3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played: 3 December 2025. Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.

3 December 2025	A1	v	B3	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

3 December 2025	B1	v	A2	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

3 December 2025	A3	v	B2	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

---

5 December 2025	A2	v	B3	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

5 December 2025	B2	v	A1	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

5 December 2025	A3	v	B1	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

---

7 December 2025	B1	v	A1	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

7 December 2025	A2	v	B2	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

7 December 2025	A3	v	B3	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

Group II

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	C1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Quarterfinals
2	D1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	C2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	D2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	C3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	D3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played: 2 December 2025. Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.

2 December 2025	C1	v	D3	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

2 December 2025	D1	v	C2	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

2 December 2025	C3	v	D2	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

---

4 December 2025	C2	v	D3	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

4 December 2025	D2	v	C1	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

4 December 2025	C3	v	D1	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

---

6 December 2025	D1	v	C1	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

6 December 2025	C2	v	D2	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

6 December 2025	C3	v	D3	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

Group III

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	E1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Quarterfinals
2	F1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	E2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	F2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	E3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	F3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played: 4 December 2025. Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.

4 December 2025	E1	v	F3	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

4 December 2025	F1	v	E2	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

4 December 2025	E3	v	F2	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

---

6 December 2025	E2	v	F3	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

6 December 2025	F2	v	E1	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

6 December 2025	E3	v	F1	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

---

8 December 2025	F1	v	E1	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

8 December 2025	E2	v	F2	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

8 December 2025	E3	v	F3	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

Group IV

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	G1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Quarterfinals
2	H1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	G2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	H2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	G3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	H3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played: 3 December 2025. Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.

3 December 2025	G1	v	H3	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

3 December 2025	H1	v	G2	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

3 December 2025	G3	v	H2	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

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5 December 2025	G2	v	H3	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

5 December 2025	H2	v	G1	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

5 December 2025	G3	v	H1	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

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7 December 2025	H1	v	G1	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

7 December 2025	G2	v	H2	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

7 December 2025	G3	v	H3	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

Final round

Bracket

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	10 December
	I1
					12 December
	III2
	10 December
	II1
									14 December
	IV2
	9 December
	III1
					12 December
	I2
	9 December
									Third place
	IV1
									14 December
	II2

Quarterfinals

9 December 2025	II1	v	IV2	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

---

9 December 2025	IV1	v	II2	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund

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10 December 2025	I1	v	III2	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

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10 December 2025	III1	v	I2	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

Semifinals

12 December 2025	WQF1	v	WQF3	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

---

12 December 2025	WQF2	v	WQF4	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

Third place game

14 December 2025 14:30	LSF1	v	LSF2	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

Final

14 December 2025 17:30	WSF1	v	WSF2	Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam

Final ranking

Places 1 to 4 and 25 to 32 will be decided by play-off or knock-out. The losers of the quarter finals will be ranked 5th to 8th according to the places in the main round, points gained and goal difference. Teams finishing third in the main round will be ranked 9th to 12th, teams finishing fourth in the main round 13th to 16th, teams finishing fifth in the main round 17th to 20th and teams ranked sixth 21st to 24th. In case of a tie in points gained, the goal difference of the main round will be taken into account, then number of goals scored. If teams will still be equal, number of points gained in the preliminary round will be considered followed by the goal difference and then number of goals scored in the preliminary round.

Rank	Team
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

Qualified for the 2027 World Women's Handball Championship

Notes

1. There are ways of qualifying from Europe, via the European Championship or European qualification
2. The Asian Championship acts as qualification for the Oceanian teams.
3. Oceanian teams who enter, participate in the Asian Championship to decides their qualification. However, Australia withdrew before the tournament, meaning no Oceanian team qualified.
4. There are two ways of qualifying from Europe, via the European Championship or European qualification
5. There are two ways of qualifying from South and Central America, via the South and Central American Championship or Last Chance Qualification Tournament

References

1. "IHF Council awards events up to 2027". IHF. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
2. ""Catch the Dream" at the 2025 IHF Women's World Championship, as final venue is announced". International Handball Federation. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
3. "Bidders for upcoming IHF events". IHF. 11 October 2018. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019.
4. "2025 and 2027 Men's and Women's World Championships". IHF. 25 September 2019.
5. "Germany, Netherlands propose joint bid for World Women's Handball Championship". SportBusiness. 27 September 2019.
6. "IHF Council awards events up to 2027". IHF. 28 February 2025.
7. https://www.handball.no/globalassets/nhf-sentralt/om-oss/organisasjon/protokoller/ehf-og-ihf/ihf-council/20200330ihf-minutes-council-27-2802.pdf ^{[ bare URL PDF ]}
8. "Grosse Bühnen für die Frauen-WM 2025" (in German). German Handball Federation. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
9. "De organisatie WK Handbal 2025 kiest voor speelsteden Rotterdam en 's-Hertogenbosch" (in Dutch). HandbalNL. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
10. "IHF | People's Republic of China granted wild card for the 2025 IHF Women's World Championship". www.ihf.info.
11. "Tom pengekasse koster Grønlands landshold VM-mulighed". DR. February 22, 2025.
12. "IHF | Five teams to battle for coveted title at the 2025 NACHC Women's Handball Championship". www.ihf.info.
13. "Strategic plan | USA" (PDF). IHF.
14. "Council Meeting No. 3" (PDF). Doha, Qatar: IHF. 18 October 2018. pp. 8–9.
15. "RZS - Rokometna zveza Slovenije". www.rokometna-zveza.si.
16. "Croatia Granted Wild Card For The 2025 IHF Women's World Championship". IHF. 12 May 2025.
17. "Handball-WM 2025 Frauen: Spielplan". handball.nationalmannschaft.net. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
18. "Draw yields mouthwatering clashes for the 2025 IHF Women's World Championship". ihf.info. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
19. "IHF | Star-studded draw to provide path towards the trophy at the 2025 IHF Women's World Championship". www.ihf.info.
20. "IHF | Seedings announced for the 2025 IHF Women's World Championship". www.ihf.info.
21. "Pots revealed for the 2025 IHF Women's World Championship". ihf.info. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
22. "Match schedule released and tickets on sale for 2025 IHF Women's World Championship". IHF. 21 November 2024.
23. "2025 IHF Women's World Championship: Preliminary round schedule released". IHF. 6 June 2025.

External links

• Official website