IHF World Men's Handball Championship

IHF World Men's Handball Championship
Current season, competition or edition:; Current sports event 2027 World Men's Handball Championship
Sport	Handball
Founded	1938; 88 years ago
Founder	International Amateur Handball Federation
First season	1938
No. of teams	32 (finals)
Continent	International (IHF)
Most recent; champion	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark (4th title)
Most titles	France (6 titles)

The IHF Men's Handball World Championship has been organized indoor by the International Handball Federation since 1938.

In the twenty-nine tournaments held, twelve national teams have won the title. France is the most successful team with six titles, followed by Sweden, Denmark and Romania with four titles each.

The current champion is Denmark, which won its fourth consecutive title at the 2025 tournament in Croatia, Denmark and Norway.^[1]

History

The first indoor championship took place in Germany in 1938, involving four teams from Europe made up of 7 players who competed in a round robin stage to find a winner. It wouldn't be until sixteen years later where the second World Championship was held in the country of Sweden. Throughout their history, the World Championships have been dominated by European teams, with no medals being won by non-European countries until 2015, by Qatar. Over the years, the organization of the World Championships has changed. Initially, there were group games in both the preliminary and main rounds, but since the 1995 edition a knockout system has been applied after the preliminary round.^[2]

Tournaments

Year	Host	Final			Third place match			Teams
Year	Host	Champions	Score	Runners-up	Third place	Score	Fourth place	Teams
1938 Details	Nazi Germany Germany	File:Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg Germany	Round-robin	File:State flag of Austria (1934–1938).svg Austria	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	Round-robin	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	4
1954 Details	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	17–14	Error creating thumbnail: Germany^[a]	Error creating thumbnail: Czechoslovakia	24–11	Error creating thumbnail: Switzerland	6
1958 Details	Error creating thumbnail: East Germany	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	22–12	Error creating thumbnail: Czechoslovakia	Error creating thumbnail: Germany^[b]	16–13	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	16
1961 Details	Error creating thumbnail: West Germany	File:Flag of Romania (1952-1965).svg Romania	9–8 (2ET)	Error creating thumbnail: Czechoslovakia	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	17–14	Error creating thumbnail: Germany^[b]	12
1964 Details	Czechoslovakia	File:Flag of Romania (1952-1965).svg Romania	25–22	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	Error creating thumbnail: Czechoslovakia	22–15	Error creating thumbnail: West Germany	16
1967 Details	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	Error creating thumbnail: Czechoslovakia	14–11	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	File:Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg Romania	21–19 (ET)	File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union	16
1970 Details	France	File:Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg Romania	13–12 (2ET)	File:Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany	File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia	29–12	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	16
1974 Details	East Germany East Germany	File:Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg Romania	14–12	File:Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany	File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia	18–16	File:Flag of Poland (1928–1980).svg Poland	16
1978 Details	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	Error creating thumbnail: West Germany	20–19	File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union	File:Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany	19–15	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	16
1982 Details	Error creating thumbnail: West Germany	File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union	30–27 (ET)	File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia	File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland	23–22	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	16
1986 Details	Switzerland	File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia	24–22	Error creating thumbnail: Hungary	File:Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany	24–23	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	16
1990 Details	Czechoslovakia	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	27–23	File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union	File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania	27–21	File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia	16
1993 Details	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	File:Flag of Russia (1991–1993).svg Russia	28–19	Error creating thumbnail: France	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	26–19	Error creating thumbnail: Switzerland	16
1995 Details	Iceland Iceland	Error creating thumbnail: France	23–19	File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	26–20	Error creating thumbnail: Germany	24
1997 Details	Japan Japan	Error creating thumbnail: Russia	23–21	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	Error creating thumbnail: France	28–27	Error creating thumbnail: Hungary	24
1999 Details	Egypt Egypt	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	25–24	Error creating thumbnail: Russia	File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1992–2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006).svg FR Yugoslavia	27–24	File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	24
2001 Details	France	Error creating thumbnail: France	28–25 (ET)	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1992–2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006).svg FR Yugoslavia	27–17	File:Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt	24
2003 Details	Portugal Portugal	File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia	34–31	Error creating thumbnail: Germany	Error creating thumbnail: France	27–22	File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	24
2005 Details	Tunisia Tunisia	File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	40–34	File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia	Error creating thumbnail: France	26–25	File:Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia	24
2007 Details	Error creating thumbnail: Germany	Error creating thumbnail: Germany	29–24	File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	34–27	Error creating thumbnail: France	24
2009 Details	Croatia Croatia	Error creating thumbnail: France	24–19	File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia	File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland	31–23	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	24
2011 Details	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	Error creating thumbnail: France	37–35 (ET)	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	24–23	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	24
2013 Details	Spain Spain	File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	35–19	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia	31–26	File:Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia	24
2015 Details	Qatar Qatar	Error creating thumbnail: France	25–22	File:Flag of Qatar.svg Qatar	File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland	29–28 (ET)	File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	24
2017 Details	France	Error creating thumbnail: France	33–26	Error creating thumbnail: Norway	File:Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia	31–30	File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia	24
2019 Details	Error creating thumbnail: Error creating thumbnail: Denmark / Germany	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	31–22	Error creating thumbnail: Norway	Error creating thumbnail: France	26–25	Error creating thumbnail: Germany	24
2021 Details	Egypt Egypt	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	26–24	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	35–29	Error creating thumbnail: France	32
2023 Details	Poland Error creating thumbnail: Poland / Sweden	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	34–29	Error creating thumbnail: France	File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	39–36	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	32
2025 Details	Croatia Error creating thumbnail: Croatia / Denmark / Norway	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	32–26	File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia	Error creating thumbnail: France	35–34	File:Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal	32
2027 Details	Error creating thumbnail: Germany							32
2029 Details	Error creating thumbnail: France / Germany							32
2031 Details	Error creating thumbnail: Iceland Denmark / Iceland / Norway							32

Medal table


Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	France	6	2	5	13
2	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	4	4	4	12
3	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	4	3	1	8
4	File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania	4	0	2	6
5	Error creating thumbnail: Germany	2	2	1	5
6	Russia	2	1	0	3
7	File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	2	0	3	5
8	File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia	1	4	1	6
9	Czechoslovakia	1	2	2	5
10	File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union	1	2	0	3
11	File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia	1	1	2	4
12	Error creating thumbnail: West Germany	1	0	0	1
13	File:Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany	0	2	2	4
14	Norway	0	2	0	2
15	File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland	0	1	3	4
16	Error creating thumbnail: Austria	0	1	0	1
	Hungary	0	1	0	1
	File:Flag of Qatar.svg Qatar	0	1	0	1
19	File:Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992–2006).svg Yugoslavia	0	0	2	2
20	File:Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia	0	0	1	1
Totals (20 entries)		29	29	29	87

Participating nations

Legend

1st – Champions
2nd – Runners-up
3rd – Third place
4th – Fourth place
5th – Fifth place
6th – Sixth place
7th – Seventh place
8th – Eighth place
9th – Ninth place
10th – Tenth place
11th – Eleventh place
12th to 24th – Twelfth to twenty-fourth place
Q — Qualified for upcoming tournament
•• — Qualified but withdrew
• — Did not qualify
× — Did not enter / Withdrew from the World Championship / Banned
— Hosts

Total	4	6	16	12	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	32	32	32	32	32	32
Team	Germany 1938	Error creating thumbnail: 1954	Error creating thumbnail: 1958	Error creating thumbnail: 1961	1964	Error creating thumbnail: 1967	1970	East Germany 1974	Error creating thumbnail: 1978	Error creating thumbnail: 1982	Switzerland 1986	1990	Error creating thumbnail: 1993	Iceland 1995	Japan 1997	Egypt 1999	2001	Portugal 2003	Tunisia 2005	Error creating thumbnail: 2007	Croatia 2009	Error creating thumbnail: 2011	Spain 2013	Qatar 2015	2017	Error creating thumbnail: Error creating thumbnail: 2019	Egypt 2021	Poland Error creating thumbnail: 2023	Croatia Error creating thumbnail: 2025	Error creating thumbnail: 2027	Error creating thumbnail: 2029	Error creating thumbnail: Iceland 2031	Total
File:Flag of Algeria.svg Algeria	Part of France				×	×	×	15th	•	16th	16th	16th	•	16th	17th	15th	13th	18th	17th	•	19th	15th	17th	24th	•	•	22nd	31st	30th	Q			18
File:Flag of Angola.svg Angola	Part of File:Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal								•	•	•	•	×	×	×	•	×	•	20th	21st	•	•	•	•	24th	23rd	30th	•	•	Q			6
Argentina	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	22nd	21st	15th	17th	18th	16th	18th	12th	18th	12th	18th	17th	11th	19th	20th	Q			16
Australia	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	24th	•	21st	24th	24th	24th	24th	24th	•	×	•	•	•	×	•			7
Error creating thumbnail: Austria	2nd	×	11th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	14th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	18th	•	13th	•	19th	26th	•	17th				8
File:Flag of Bahrain.svg Bahrain	Part of Great Britain							×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	23rd	•	••	23rd	20th	21st	16th	29th	Q			7
File:Flag of Belarus.svg Belarus	Part of File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union												•	9th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	15th	18th	11th	•	17th	×	×	×			5
File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	21st	•				1
File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina	Part of File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia												•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	20th	•	•	•	•	•				1
Error creating thumbnail: Brazil	×	×	15th	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	24th	24th	16th	19th	22nd	19th	19th	21st	21st	13th	16th	16th	9th	18th	17th	7th	Q			18
Bulgaria	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	11th	14th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	×				2
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada	×	×	×	×	•	16th	•	×	15th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	23rd	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	×	•				3
File:Flag of Cape Verde.svg Cape Verde	Part of File:Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal								×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	32nd	23rd	23rd	Q			4
Chile	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	22nd	23rd	23rd	21st	16th	27th	26th	24th	Q			9
Error creating thumbnail: China	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	20th	20th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	×	•	•			2
File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia	Part of File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia												•	2nd	13th	10th	9th	1st	2nd	5th	2nd	5th	3rd	6th	4th	6th	15th	9th	2nd	Q			17
File:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	13th	15th	14th	•	13th	14th	8th	•	×	×	×	20th	•	×	×	×	×	×	•	32nd				8
Czech Republic	See Czechoslovakia													8th	11th	•	18th	•	10th	12th	•	•	•	17th	•	•	••	•	19th				7
Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	4th	5th	4th	5th	7th	2nd	4th	8th	4th	4th	7th	•	9th	19th	•	9th	•	9th	13th	3rd	4th	2nd	2nd	5th	10th	1st	1st	1st	1st	Q		Q	27
File:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg DR Congo	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	28th	•	•				1
File:Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt	×	×	×	×	14th	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	12th	6th	6th	7th	4th	15th	14th	17th	14th	14th	16th	14th	13th	8th	7th	7th	5th	Q			19
Finland	×	•	14th	•	•	•	•	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				1
France	×	6th	9th	8th	13th	10th	12th	•	16th	•	•	9th	2nd	1st	3rd	6th	1st	3rd	3rd	4th	1st	1st	6th	1st	1st	3rd	4th	2nd	3rd		Q		26
Error creating thumbnail: Germany (including West Germany)	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	4th	6th	5th	9th	1st	7th	7th	•	6th	4th	•	5th	8th	2nd	9th	1st	5th	11th	5th	7th	9th	4th	12th	5th	6th	Q	Q		29
File:Flag of Greece.svg Greece	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	6th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				1
File:Flag of Greenland.svg Greenland	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	20th	24th	•	22nd	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				3
File:Flag of Guinea.svg Guinea	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	31st	•			1
Hungary	×	•	7th	•	8th	8th	8th	7th	9th	9th	2nd	6th	11th	17th	4th	11th	•	6th	•	9th	6th	7th	8th	•	7th	10th	5th	8th	8th				23
File:Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland	×	×	10th	6th	9th	•	11th	14th	13th	•	6th	10th	8th	14th	5th	•	11th	7th	15th	8th	•	6th	12th	11th	14th	11th	20th	12th	9th	Q		Q	25
File:Flag of Iran.svg Iran	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	21st	•	•	•	24th	•	•			2
Error creating thumbnail: Italy	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	18th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	16th				2
Japan	×	×	×	12th	16th	11th	10th	12th	12th	14th	•	15th	•	23rd	15th	•	•	•	16th	•	•	16th	•	•	22nd	24th	19th	×	28th	Q			17
File:Flag of Kuwait.svg Kuwait	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	15th	•	•	•	20th	•	19th	23rd	20th	22nd	19th	22nd	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	27th	Q			10
File:Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania	Part of File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union												•	•	10th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				1
File:Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg	×	×	16th	•	•	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•			1
File:Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro	Part of File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia												Part of File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1992–2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006).svg Serbia and Montenegro							•	•	•	22nd	•	•	•	•	18th	•				2
File:Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco	/ Spain		×	×	×	×	•	×	•	×	×	•	•	22nd	23rd	17th	22nd	23rd	•	20th	•	•	•	•	•	•	29th	30th	•	•			8
Netherlands	×	×	×	11th	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	14th	12th				3
File:Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	×	×	×	•	23rd	×	•	×	•	•	•	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•			1
File:Flag of North Macedonia.svg North Macedonia	Part of File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia												•	•	•	18th	•	•	•	•	11th	•	14th	9th	15th	15th	23rd	27th	15th				9
Norway	×	•	6th	7th	11th	13th	13th	•	•	•	•	•	13th	•	12th	13th	14th	•	7th	13th	9th	9th	•	•	2nd	2nd	6th	6th	10			Q	19
File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland	×	×	5th	•	•	12th	14th	4th	6th	3rd	14th	11th	•	•	•	•	•	10th	•	2nd	3rd	8th	9th	3rd	17th	•	13th	15th	25th				18
File:Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal	×	×	×	•	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	19th	•	16th	12th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	10th	13th	4th	Q			7
File:Flag of Qatar.svg Qatar	Part of Great Britain							×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	16th	21st	23rd	•	•	20th	2nd	8th	13th	8th	22nd	21st	Q			11
File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania	×	×	13th	1st	1st	3rd	1st	1st	7th	5th	9th	3rd	10th	10th	•	•	•	•	•	•	15th	19th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				14
Russia	See File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union												1st	5th	1st	2nd	6th	5th	8th	6th	16th	•	7th	19th	12th	14th	14th	×	×	×			14^[c]
File:Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	21st	22nd	21st	19th	•	•	23rd	•	19th	22nd	20th	21st	•	29th	•	•			10
File:Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia	Part of File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia												Part of File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1992–2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006).svg Serbia and Montenegro							•	8th	10th	10th	•	•	18th	•	11th	•				5
Error creating thumbnail: Slovakia	See Czechoslovakia													•	•	•	•	•	•	•	10th	17th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				2
File:Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia	Part of File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia												•	18th	•	•	17th	11th	12th	10th	•	•	4th	8th	3rd	•	9th	10th	13th				11
File:Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	12th	12th	15th	12th	8th	14th	12th	•	•	15th	12th	13th	21st	•	•	Korea S.	31st	28th	•	•			13
File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	×	•	12th	•	•	•	•	13th	10th	8th	5th	5th	5th	11th	7th	4th	5th	4th	1st	7th	13th	3rd	1st	4th	5th	7th	3rd	3rd	18th				23
Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	3rd	1st	1st	3rd	2nd	5th	6th	10th	8th	11th	4th	1st	3rd	3rd	2nd	1st	2nd	13th	11th	•	7th	4th	•	10th	6th	5th	2nd	4th	14th	Q			28
File:Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland	×	4th	×	10th	12th	14th	15th	•	•	12th	11th	13th	4th	7th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	16th	•	11th				12
File:Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia	France		×	×	×	15th	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	15th	16th	12th	10th	14th	4th	11th	17th	20th	11th	15th	19th	12th	25th	25th	22nd	Q			18
Error creating thumbnail: Ukraine	Part of File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union												•	•	•	•	7th	•	•	14th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				2
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States	×	×	×	×	15th	•	16th	16th	•	•	•	•	16th	21st	•	•	24th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	••	20th	26th				8
File:Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	24th	32nd	•	Q			3
Discontinued teams
Czechoslovakia	×	3rd	2nd	2nd	3rd	1st	7th	6th	11th	10th	13th	7th	7th	See Czech Republic																			12
File:Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany	Germany	×	Error creating thumbnail:	Error creating thumbnail:	10th	9th	2nd	2nd	3rd	6th	3rd	8th	See Error creating thumbnail: Germany																				8
File:Unification flag of Korea.svg Korea	See File:Flag of North Korea.svg North Korea and File:Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea																									22nd	File:Flag of North Korea.svg North Korea / File:Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea						1
File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1992–2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006).svg Serbia and Montenegro	Part of File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia												•	•	9th	3rd	3rd	8th	5th	See File:Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia and File:Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro													5
File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union	×	×	×	•	5th	4th	9th	5th	2nd	1st	10th	2nd	See Russia																				8
File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia	×	×	8th	9th	6th	7th	3rd	3rd	5th	2nd	1st	4th																					10

Statistics

List of hosts

List of hosts by number of championships hosted.

Times hosted	Host	Year(s)
9	Error creating thumbnail: Germany (including East* and West Germany**)	1938, 1958, 1961, 1974, 1982**, 2007, 2019, (2027, 2029)
5	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	1954, 1967, 1993, 2011, 2023
4	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	1978, 2019, 2025, (2031)
4	France	1970, 2001, 2017, (2029)
2	File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia	2009, 2025
	Czechoslovakia	1964, 1990
	File:Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt	1999, 2021
	File:Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland	1995, (2031)
	Norway	2025, (2031)
1	Japan	1997
	File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland	2023
	File:Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal	2003
	File:Flag of Qatar.svg Qatar	2015
	File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	2013
	Error creating thumbnail: Switzerland	1986
	File:Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia	2005

All-time table for semi-finalists (1938–2025)

Team	Participations					Games
Team	Nb	Titles	%	Top 4	%	Pld	W	%	D	%	L	%
Error creating thumbnail: Austria	8	0	0,0 %	1	12,5 %	45	17	37,8 %	4	8,9 %	24	53,3 %
File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia	16	1	6,3 %	7	43,8 %	132	95	72,0 %	7	5,3 %	30	22,7 %
Czechoslovakia	12	1	8,3 %	5	41,7 %	72	41	56,9 %	7	9,7 %	24	33,3 %
Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	26	4	15,4 %	14	53,8 %	183	124	67,8 %	8	4,4 %	51	27,9 %
File:Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany	8	0	0,0 %	4	50,0 %	45	24	53,3 %	6	13,3 %	15	33,3 %
File:Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt	18	0	0,0 %	1	5,6 %	130	60	46,2 %	8	6,2 %	62	47,7 %
France	25	6	24,0 %	15	60,0 %	188	130	69,1 %	7	3,7 %	51	27,1 %
Error creating thumbnail: Germany^[a]^[b]	20	2	10,0 %	8	40,0 %	152	104	68,4 %	11	7,2 %	37	24,3 %
Hungary	23	0	0,0 %	2	8,7 %	164	84	51,2 %	11	6,7 %	69	42,1 %
Norway	18	0	0,0 %	2	11,1 %	119	65	54,6 %	7	5,9 %	47	39,5 %
File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland	18	0	0,0 %	5	27,8 %	121	66	54,5 %	6	5,0 %	49	40,5 %
File:Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal	6	0	0,0 %	1	16,7 %	39	20	51,3 %	2	5,1 %	17	43,6 %
File:Flag of Qatar.svg Qatar	10	0	0,0 %	1	10,0 %	67	24	35,8 %	0	0,0 %	43	64,2 %
File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania	14	4	28,6 %	6	42,9 %	92	57	62,0 %	4	4,8 %	31	33,7 %
Russia^[d]	13	2	15,4 %	3	23,1 %	107	66	61,7 %	8	7,5 %	33	30,8 %
File:Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia	11	0	0,0 %	2	18,2 %	79	40	50,6 %	5	6,3 %	34	43,0 %
File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union	8	1	12,5 %	4	50,0 %	51	35	68,6 %	2	3,9 %	14	27,5 %
File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	23	2	8,7 %	8	34,8 %	182	124	68,1 %	9	4,9 %	49	26,9 %
Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	27	4	14,8 %	15	55,6 %	193	131	67,9 %	8	4,1 %	54	28,0 %
Switzerland	12	0	0,0 %	2	16,7 %	62	25	40,3 %	5	8,1 %	32	51,6 %
File:Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia	17	0	0,0 %	1	5,6 %	116	44	37,9 %	10	8,6 %	62	53,4 %
Error creating thumbnail: West Germany	7	1	14,3 %	2	28,6 %	44	28	63,6 %	4	9,1 %	12	27,3 %
File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia^[e]	10	1	10,0 %	5	50,0 %	59	35	59,3 %	5	8,5 %	19	32,2 %
File:Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992–2006).svg Yugoslavia^[f]	5	0	0,0 %	2	40,0 %	42	27	64,3 %	4	9,5 %	11	26,2 %

Draws include knockout matches decided in a penalty shootout.

Most successful players

Boldface denotes active handball players and highest medal count among all players (including these who are not included in these tables) per type.

Multiple gold medalists

Rank	Player	Country	From	To	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Thierry Omeyer	France	2001	2017	5	–	2	7
2	Nikola Karabatić	France	2005	2023	4	1	2	7
3	Mads Mensah Larsen	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	2013	2025	4	1	–	5
3	Henrik Møllgaard	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	2013	2025	4	1	–	5
5	Jérôme Fernandez	France	2001	2015	4	–	2	6
	Michaël Guigou	France	2005	2019	4	–	2	6
	Daniel Narcisse	France	2001	2017	4	–	2	6
8	Cédric Sorhaindo	France	2009	2019	4	–	1	5
9	Simon Hald	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	2019	2025	4	–	–	4
	Jóhan Hansen	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	2019	2025	4	–	–	4
	Magnus Landin Jacobsen	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark	2019	2025	4	–	–	4

Multiple medalists

The table shows players who have won at least 6 medals in total at the World Championships.

Rank	Player	Country	From	To	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Thierry Omeyer	France	2001	2017	5	–	2	7
2	Nikola Karabatić	France	2005	2023	4	1	2	7
3	Jérôme Fernandez	France	2001	2015	4	–	2	6
	Michaël Guigou	France	2005	2019	4	–	2	6
	Daniel Narcisse	France	2001	2017	4	–	2	6
6	Magnus Andersson	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	1990	2001	2	2	2	6
	Ola Lindgren	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	1990	2001	2	2	2	6
	Magnus Wislander	Error creating thumbnail: Sweden	1990	2001	2	2	2	6
9	Jackson Richardson	France	1993	2005	2	1	3	6

Top scorers by tournament

The record-holder for scored goals in a single World Championship is Kiril Lazarov. He scored 92 goals for Macedonia in nine matches at the 2009 World Championship.

Year	Player	Goals
1938	Error creating thumbnail: Yngve Lamberg Germany Hans-Werner Obermark Germany Hans Theilig	6
1954	Error creating thumbnail: Otto Maychrzak	16
1958	Error creating thumbnail: Mogens Olsen	46
1961	Romania Petre Ivănescu Zdeněk Rada	24
1964	Romania Hans (Ioan) Moser	33
1967	Error creating thumbnail: Herbert Lübking	38
1970	Soviet Union Vladimir Maksimov	31
1974	Romania Ștefan Birtalan	43
1978	Poland Jerzy Klempel Péter Kovács	47
1982	Romania Vasile Stîngă	65
1986	South Korea Kang Jae-won	67
1990	Cuba Roberto Julián Duranona Soviet Union Aleksandr Tuchkin	55
1993	Marc Baumgartner József Éles South Korea Yoon Kyung-shin	41
1995	South Korea Yoon Kyung-shin	86
1997	South Korea Yoon Kyung-shin	62
1999	Cuba Rolando Uríos	57
2001	Eduard Koksharov	61
2003	Carlos Pérez	64
2005	Tunisia Wissem Hmam	81
2007	Iceland Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson	66
2009	North Macedonia Kiril Lazarov	92
2011	Error creating thumbnail: Mikkel Hansen	68
2013	Error creating thumbnail: Anders Eggert	62
2015	Slovenia Dragan Gajić	71
2017	North Macedonia Kiril Lazarov	50
2019	Error creating thumbnail: Mikkel Hansen	72
2021	Qatar Frankis Carol	58
2023	Error creating thumbnail: Mathias Gidsel	60
2025	Error creating thumbnail: Mathias Gidsel	74

Notes

^ ^a ^b In 1954, Germany sent a team fully composed of players from West Germany.
^ ^a ^b ^c In 1958 and 1961, Germany sent a united team composed of players from West Germany and East Germany.
^ Russia's total includes one appearance as Russian Handball Federation in 2021.
^ Not including 2021 results (3 victories, 1 draw and 2 loses in 6 matches) because the team participated as the Russian Handball Federation in accordance with a ban by WADA and a decision by CAS.
^ Competed as SFR Yugoslavia in 1958–1990.
^ Competed as FR Yugoslavia in 1997–2003 and as Serbia and Montenegro in 2005.

References

^ "Danmark vinder VM for tredje gang i streg efter drama" (in dansk). TV 2. 29 January 2023.
^ "IHF official website – Men's World Championships – Statistics (1938–2009)" (PDF). IHF.

External links

[GER54-3] In 1954, Germany sent a team fully composed of players from West Germany.

[GER58-61-4] In 1958 and 1961, Germany sent a united team composed of players from West Germany and East Germany.

[5] Russia's total includes one appearance as Russian Handball Federation in 2021.

[RHF21-6] Not including 2021 results (3 victories, 1 draw and 2 loses in 6 matches) because the team participated as the Russian Handball Federation in accordance with a ban by WADA and a decision by CAS.

[YUG-7] Competed as SFR Yugoslavia in 1958–1990.

[FRYUG-8] Competed as FR Yugoslavia in 1997–2003 and as Serbia and Montenegro in 2005.

[1] "Danmark vinder VM for tredje gang i streg efter drama" (in dansk). TV 2. 29 January 2023.

[IHF-2] "IHF official website – Men's World Championships – Statistics (1938–2009)" (PDF). IHF.

[1]

[2]

[a]

[b]

[c]

[d]

[e]

[f]

v t e World Handball Championships
IHF World Men's Field Handball Championship
Tournaments	Germany 1938 Sweden 1954 East Germany 1958 West Germany 1961 Czechoslovakia 1964 Sweden 1967 France 1970 East Germany 1974 Denmark 1978 West Germany 1982 Switzerland 1986 Czechoslovakia 1990 Sweden 1993 Iceland 1995 Japan 1997 Egypt 1999 France 2001 Portugal 2003 Tunisia 2005 Germany 2007 Croatia 2009 Sweden 2011 Spain 2013 Qatar 2015 France 2017 Denmark / Germany 2019 Egypt 2021 Poland / Sweden 2023 Croatia / Denmark / Norway 2025 Germany 2027 France / Germany 2029 Denmark / Iceland / Norway 2031
Qualification	1954 1958 1970 2025 2027
Group B	1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1992
Group C	1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990
Squads	1938 1954 1958 1961 1964 1967 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025
Team appearances

v t e International men's handball
IAHF IHF Summer Olympic Games IHF World Championship IHF Field World Championship IHF Emerging Nations Championship IHF World Player of the Year
Africa	CAHB African Championship African Games
Asia & Oceania	AHF & OCHF Asian Championship Oceania Handball Nations Cup Asian Games
Europe	EHF European Championship
North America and Caribbean	NACHC Nor.Ca. Championship Pan American Games Central American and Caribbean Games Central American Games
South & Central America	SCAHC South & Central American Championship Pan American Games South American Games
Multi-sport events	Arab Games Bolivarian Games Mediterranean Games Universiade World University Championships
Discontinued	EHF Nations' Cup EHF Challenge Trophy Pan American Championship Intercontinental Cup Goodwill Games

v t e International handball
IAHF IHF Olympic Games World Championships Men Women National teams Player of the Year Achievements by nation Beach handball World Championships World Games
International	World Championships Men's U-21 Women's U-20 Men's U-19 Women's U-18 Men's U-17 University Wheelchair Men's Field Handball Women's Field Handball Youth Olympics Summer Universiade Emerging Nations IHF Inter-Continental Trophy Arab Games Mediterranean Games	File:World Map IHF.png
Africa	African Championships Men Women Men's Junior Women's Junior Men's Youth Women's Youth African Games
North America and Caribbean	North American and Caribbean Championship Men Women Pan American Games (Junior) Central American and Caribbean Games Central American Games
South & Central America	South & Central American Championships Men Women Men's Junior Women's Junior Men's Youth Women's Youth Pan American Games (Junior) South American Games Bolivarian Games
Asia	Asian Championships Men Women Men's Junior Women's Junior Men's Youth Women's Youth Beach Beach Youth Asian Games
Europe	European Championships Men Women Men's U-20 Women's U-19 Men's U-18 Women's U-17 Beach Men Beach Women Wheelchair Handball Nations' Tournament European Open
Oceania	Oceania Championships Senior Junior Youth Beach Pacific Cup French Pacific Championship
Defunct	Goodwill Games Intercontinental Cup Pan American Championships Men Women Men's Junior Women's Junior Men's Youth Women's Youth Beach Beach Youth

v t e Medal tables of Olympics, Paralympics and World Championships by sport
Olympic Games (Hosts Medals)	Alpine skiing Archery Athletics Badminton Bandy Basketball men women Biathlon Bobsleigh Boxing Canoeing & kayaking Cross-country skiing Curling Cycling Diving Equestrian Field hockey Fencing Figure skating Football men women Freestyle skiing Gymnastics Handball Ice hockey Judo Luge Modern pentathlon Nordic combined Rowing Sailing Shooting Skeleton Ski jumping Snowboarding Speed skating Short track Swimming Synchronized swimming Table tennis Taekwondo Tennis Triathlon Volleyball Water polo Weightlifting Wrestling Greco-Roman Freestyle
Paralympic Games (Hosts Medals)	Alpine skiing Archery Athletics Biathlon Boccia Cross‑country skiing Cycling Equestrian Football 5-a-side Football 7-a-side Goalball Ice sledge hockey Judo Powerlifting Rowing Sailing Shooting Swimming Table tennis Volleyball Wheelchair basketball Wheelchair curling Wheelchair fencing Wheelchair rugby Wheelchair tennis
World Championships or World Cups	Alpine skiing American football Aquatics Archery Athletics Badminton men women BWF Bandy men women Baseball Basketball men women Basque Pelota Beach soccer Biathlon Bobsleigh & skeleton Bowling Canoe Slalom Sprint Cricket men women Test ODI Curling men women mixed doubles Cycling BMX Cyclo-cross men women Mountain Bike Marathon Track Equestrian Equestrian games Show jumping Eventing Fencing F1 drivers constructors Field hockey men women Football clubs men women Figure skating Futsal Gymnastics artistic rhythmic trampoline Handball men women Ice hockey men women Inline hockey FIRS IIHF Judo Karate Luge natural Modern pentathlon Motorcycle racing drivers constructors Nordic skiing Padel tennis Polo Rallying drivers co-drivers manufacturers Roller hockey men women Rowing Rugby league men women Rugby union men women Shooting Softball Speed skating men men's sprint women women's sprint Taekwondo Squash individual team Tennis men women Volleyball men women Water polo Weightlifting Wrestling Freestyle & Greco-Roman Beach Catch Grappling Gi No-gi Sambo Wushu
List of international rankings Lists by country

IHF World Men's Handball Championship

Contents

History

Tournaments

Medal table

Participating nations

Statistics

List of hosts

All-time table for semi-finalists (1938–2025)

Most successful players

Multiple gold medalists

Multiple medalists

Top scorers by tournament

See also

Notes

References

External links

Navigation menu

Current season, competition or edition: Current sports event 2027 World Men's Handball Championship
Sport	Handball
Founded	1938; 88 years ago (1938)
Founder	International Amateur Handball Federation
First season	1938
No. of teams	32 (finals)
Continent	International (IHF)
Most recent champion	Error creating thumbnail: Denmark (4th title)
Most titles	France (6 titles)

IHF World Men's Handball Championship

History

Tournaments

Medal table

Participating nations

Statistics

List of hosts

All-time table for semi-finalists (1938–2025)

Most successful players

Multiple gold medalists

Multiple medalists

Top scorers by tournament

See also

Notes

References

External links

Navigation menu

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