Norway, Denmark and Croatia to Co-Host 2025 Men’s World Handball Championship

Norway, Denmark and Croatia will jointly host the 29th International Handball Federation Men’s World Championship from January 14 through February 2, 2025.

The three organizers originally applied separately for the 2025 World Championship and merged their bids. A prerequisite for hosting together was the division of semifinals in two host countries. Oslo and Zagreb will host the semifinals while the finals will be in Oslo in the Telenor Arena. The opening match is scheduled for Herning, Denmark, on January 14.

“We are really looking forward to hosting the World Championship on Norwegian soil, with the final weekend as the icing of the cake,” said project manager Kia Haftorn Otnes. “This will be the first World Championship gold medal match in Norway since the women’s tournament in 1999 and it will be a great honor to welcome the world’s best handball players to Fornebu. Together with our hard-working colleagues in all three host countries and the hundreds of volunteers who will make it possible to stage the championship, we are excited to welcome the rest of the world to Norway and Telenor Arena.”

In addition to the semifinals and final, Oslo will host two preliminary round groups, one main round group, two quarterfinals and the bronze medal match. Two other preliminary round groups and one main round group will take place in Herning while Zagreb will host two preliminary round groups, one main round group and two quarterfinals in addition to one semifinal.

“We are excited that Denmark can begin the defense of the IHF Men’s World Championship trophy on home ground,” said Anita Kristiansen, event manager of the Danish Handball Association. “The championship will be the seventh in the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, where the atmosphere is always electric. Once again, we aim to raise the bar and set new standards for world-class handball experiences together with our co-hosts and the hundreds of volunteers who make it all possible. We can’t wait to welcome handball fans from all over the world.”

For the third time, 32 teams will take part in the event with 18 teams already qualified. Another 11 teams will qualify through the European playoffs in May.

“We are delighted and proud that Croatia, along with Denmark and Norway, will be hosting the IHF Men’s World Championship 2025,” said Tomislav Grahovac, president of the Croatian Handball Federation. “All three hosts have vast experience in organizing major handball competitions, and we are fully committed to meeting the expectations of the International Handball Federation, while elevating the standards of event organization.”