2026 Men's Beach Handball World Championships

2026 Men's Beach Handball World Championships
Tournament details
Host country Croatia
VenueZagreb
Dates23–28 June
Teams16 (from 6 confederations)
Final positions
Champions Germany (1st title)
Runners-up Brazil
Third place Argentina
Fourth place Croatia
Tournament statistics
Top scorersDenmark Martin Andersen
(153 points)

The 2026 Men's Beach Handball World Championships was the 11th edition of the championship, held in Zagreb, Croatia from 23 to 28 June 2026, under the aegis of International Handball Federation (IHF).[1][2]

Germany defeated Brazil in the final to win their first title.[3]

Qualification

16 teams participated.[4]

Qualification Vacancies Qualified
Host and defending champion 1  Croatia
2025 Asian Beach Handball Championship 2  Oman
 Iran
2025 European Beach Handball Championship 7  Germany
 Spain
 Hungary
 France
 Portugal
 Denmark
 Italy
2026 Oceania Beach Handball Championship 1  Australia
2026 South and Central American Beach Handball Championship 2  Brazil
 Argentina
2026 NACHC Beach Handball Championship 2  United States
 Puerto Rico
2026 African Beach Handball Championship 1  Tunisia

Draw

The draw took place on 2 May 2026.[5][6]

Seeding

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
 Croatia
 Germany
 Spain
 Hungary
 France
 Portugal
 Brazil
 Denmark
 Argentina
 Oman
 Tunisia
 Iran
 United States
 Australia
 Puerto Rico
 Italy

Preliminary round

All times are local (UTC+2).[7]

Group A

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Spain 3 3 0 6 6 1 6.000 139 117 1.188 Main round
2  Portugal 3 2 1 4 5 3 1.667 168 137 1.226
3  Iran 3 1 2 2 3 4 0.750 139 147 0.946
4  United States 3 0 3 0 0 6 0.000 119 164 0.726 Consolation round
Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head set difference; 4) Head-to-head points won; 5) Set difference; 6) Points won; 7) Draw.
23 June 2026
13:00
Portugal  2–0  United States Court 3
Attendance: 50
Referees: Bulakorn Kongka (THA), Thiwakorn Sangjun (THA)
(29–18, 29–16)
Report
23 June 2026
13:00
Spain  2–0  Iran Court 4
Attendance: 50
Referees: Corina Radut (ROU), Daniela-Andreea Enache (ROU)
(25–14, 16–14)
Report
23 June 2026
21:00
Portugal  2–1  Iran Court 3
Attendance: 150
Referees: Dario Rupčić (CRO), Ivica Botincan (CRO)
(14–16, 19–14, 35–34)
Report
23 June 2026
21:00
United States  0–2  Spain Court 2
Referees: Sidiney dos Santos (BRA), Flavio de Moura (BRA)
(23–32, 24–27)
Report

24 June 2026
11:00
Iran  2–0  United States Court 4
Referees: Bjarne Deiters (GER), Jesper Stumpfe (GER)
(25–20, 22–18)
Report
24 June 2026
11:00
Spain  2–1  Portugal Court 2
Attendance: 40
Referees: Sylwia Bartkowiak (POL), Weronika Łakomy (POL)
(12–20, 21–20, 6–2)
Report

Group B

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Hungary 3 3 0 6 6 1 6.000 166 145 1.145 Main round
2  Denmark 3 2 1 4 5 2 2.500 161 128 1.258
3  Tunisia 3 1 2 2 2 4 0.500 122 135 0.904
4  Puerto Rico 3 0 3 0 0 6 0.000 108 149 0.725 Consolation round
Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head set difference; 4) Head-to-head points won; 5) Set difference; 6) Points won; 7) Draw.
23 June 2026
11:00
Denmark  2–0  Puerto Rico Court 4
Referees: Bulakorn Kongka (THA), Thiwakorn Sangjun (THA)
(27–20, 22–12)
Report
23 June 2026
11:00
Hungary  2–0  Tunisia Court 2
Attendance: 20
Referees: Bjarne Deiters (GER), Jesper Stumpfe (GER)
(25–22, 23–22)
Report
23 June 2026
19:00
Hungary  2–1  Denmark Central court
Attendance: 150
Referees: Dario Rupčić (CRO), Ivica Botincan (CRO)
(27–26, 24–25, 9–6)
Report
23 June 2026
19:00
Tunisia  2–0  Puerto Rico Court 3
Attendance: 50
Referees: Sidiney dos Santos (BRA), Flavio de Moura (BRA)
(24–16, 18–16)
Report

24 June 2026
13:00
Denmark  2–0  Tunisia Court 2
Attendance: 65
Referees: Sylwia Bartkowiak (POL), Weronika Łakomy (POL)
(28–20, 27–16)
Report
24 June 2026
13:00
Puerto Rico  0–2  Hungary Court 4
Referees: Corina Radut (ROU), Daniela-Andreea Enache (ROU)
(24–32, 20–26)
Report

Group C

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Germany 3 3 0 6 6 2 3.000 155 134 1.157 Main round
2  Brazil 3 2 1 4 5 2 2.500 144 117 1.231
3  Argentina 3 1 2 2 3 5 0.600 123 140 0.879
4  Italy 3 0 3 0 1 6 0.167 112 143 0.783 Consolation round
Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head set difference; 4) Head-to-head points won; 5) Set difference; 6) Points won; 7) Draw.
23 June 2026
11:00
Germany  2–1  Argentina Central court
Referees: Corina Radut (ROU), Daniela-Andreea Enache (ROU)
(25–16, 16–19, 13–12)
Report
23 June 2026
11:00
Brazil  2–0  Italy Court 3
Referees: José María Galeano (PAR), José María Rodríguez (PAR)
(28–16, 21–18)
Report
23 June 2026
19:00
Brazil  2–0  Argentina Court 4
Attendance: 70
Referees: Víctor Rollán (ESP), Sergio Martínez (ESP)
(18–14, 28–18)
Report
23 June 2026
19:00
Italy  0–2  Germany Court 2
Attendance: 112
Referees: Sylwia Bartkowiak (POL), Weronika Łakomy (POL)
(18–28, 20–22)
Report

24 June 2026
11:00
Argentina  2–1  Italy Court 3
Attendance: 70
Referees: Corina Radut (ROU), Daniela-Andreea Enache (ROU)
(14–18, 21–14, 9–8)
Report
24 June 2026
11:00
Germany  2–1  Brazil Central court
Referees: Víctor Rollán (ESP), Sergio Martínez (ESP)
(22–23, 20–18, 9–8)
Report

Group D

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Croatia (H) 3 3 0 6 6 0 MAX 135 109 1.239 Main round
2  France 3 2 1 4 4 2 2.000 133 120 1.108
3  Oman 3 1 2 2 2 4 0.500 110 118 0.932
4  Australia 3 0 3 0 0 6 0.000 111 142 0.782 Consolation round
Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head set difference; 4) Head-to-head points won; 5) Set difference; 6) Points won; 7) Draw.
(H) Host
23 June 2026
13:00
France  2–0  Australia Court 2
Attendance: 80
Referees: Bjarne Deiters (GER), Jesper Stumpfe (GER)
(24–14, 23–19)
Report
23 June 2026
13:00
Croatia  2–0  Oman Central court
Referees: Sidiney dos Santos (BRA), Flavio de Moura (BRA)
(15–12, 20–16)
Report
23 June 2026
21:00
France  2–0  Oman Court 4
Attendance: 35
Referees: Sylwia Bartkowiak (POL), Weronika Łakomy (POL)
(20–18, 23–18)
Report
23 June 2026
21:30
Australia  0–2  Croatia Central court
Attendance: 200
Referees: Víctor Rollán (ESP), Sergio Martínez (ESP)
(20–23, 18–26)
Report

24 June 2026
13:00
Oman  2–0  Australia Court 3
Attendance: 50
Referees: Bjarne Deiters (GER), Jesper Stumpfe (GER)
(22–18, 24–22)
Report
24 June 2026
13:00
Croatia  2–0  France Central court
Referees: Víctor Rollán (ESP), Sergio Martínez (ESP)
(22–20, 29–23)
Report

Consolation round

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR
1  United States 3 3 0 6 6 0 MAX 150 107 1.402
2  Italy 3 2 1 4 4 2 2.000 138 127 1.087
3  Australia 3 1 2 2 2 4 0.500 117 127 0.921
4  Puerto Rico 3 0 3 0 2 4 0.500 82 126 0.651
Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head set difference; 4) Head-to-head points won; 5) Set difference; 6) Points won; 7) Draw.
25 June 2026
10:00
United States  2–0  Puerto Rico Court 4
Referees: Bulakorn Kongka (THA), Thiwakorn Sangjun (THA)
(23–12, 24–14)
Report
25 June 2026
12:00
Italy  2–0  Australia Court 4
Attendance: 52
Referees: Dario Rupčić (CRO), Ivica Botincan (CRO)
(22–20, 27–26)
Report
25 June 2026
18:00
United States  2–0  Italy Central court
Attendance: 150
Referees: Dario Rupčić (CRO), Ivica Botincan (CRO)
(26–22, 23–22)
Report
25 June 2026
18:00
Puerto Rico  0–2  Australia Court 2
Attendance: 50
Referees: Sidiney dos Santos (BRA), Flavio de Moura (BRA)
(10–18, 14–16)
Report

26 June 2026
10:00
Australia  0–2  United States Court 4
Attendance: 40
Referees: Sylwia Bartkowiak (POL), Weronika Łakomy (POL)
(19–28, 18–26)
Report
26 June 2026
12:00
Puerto Rico  0–2  Italy Court 4
Attendance: 30
Referees: Sidiney dos Santos (BRA), Flavio de Moura (BRA)
(16–22, 16–23)
Report

Main round

Points obtained against teams from the same group were carried over.

Group I

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Hungary 5 4 1 8[a] 9 3 3.000 251 235 1.068 Quarterfinals
2  Portugal 5 4 1 8[a] 9 5 1.800 268 246 1.089
3  Spain 5 4 1 8[a] 8 4 2.000 227 203 1.118
4  Denmark 5 2 3 4 7 6 1.167 262 244 1.074
5  Iran 5 1 4 2 3 8 0.375 208 236 0.881
6  Tunisia 5 0 5 0 0 10 0.000 190 242 0.785
Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head set difference; 4) Head-to-head points won; 5) Set difference; 6) Points won; 7) Draw.
Notes:
  1. 1 2 3 Hungary 2 Pts, +1 SD; Portugal 2 Pts, 0 SD; Spain 2 Pts, −1 SD.
25 June 2026
10:00
Spain  2–0  Tunisia Court 3
Attendance: 50
Referees: Dario Rupčić (CRO), Ivica Botincan (CRO)
(23–22, 23–10)
Report
25 June 2026
10:00
Iran  0–2  Denmark Central court
Attendance: 150
Referees: José María Galeano (PAR), José María Rodríguez (PAR)
(16–23, 16–21)
Report
25 June 2026
10:00
Hungary  1–2  Portugal Court 2
Attendance: 50
Referees: Bjarne Deiters (GER), Jesper Stumpfe (GER)
(24–25, 23–18, 4–9)
Report
25 June 2026
19:00
Iran  0–2  Hungary Court 3
Attendance: 50
Referees: Sylwia Bartkowiak (POL), Weronika Łakomy (POL)
(20–22, 22–23)
Report
25 June 2026
19:00
Denmark  1–2  Spain Central court
Referees: Bjarne Deiters (GER), Jesper Stumpfe (GER)
(20–26, 28–26, 6–9)
Report
25 June 2026
19:00
Portugal  2–0  Tunisia Court 4
Attendance: 10
Referees: Bulakorn Kongka (THA), Thiwakorn Sangjun (THA)
(25–16, 26–24)
Report

26 June 2026
10:00
Denmark  1–2  Portugal Central court
Attendance: 150
Referees: Dario Rupčić (CRO), Ivica Botincan (CRO)
(22–29, 24–18, 6–8)
Report
26 June 2026
10:00
Hungary  2–0  Spain Court 2
Attendance: 50
Referees: Sidiney dos Santos (BRA), Flavio de Moura (BRA)
(25–20, 22–20)
Report
26 June 2026
10:00
Tunisia  0–2  Iran Court 3
Attendance: 50
Referees: Bjarne Deiters (GER), Jesper Stumpfe (GER)
(22–23, 16–19)
Report

Group II

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Germany 5 5 0 10 10 5 2.000 244 214 1.140 Quarterfinals
2  Brazil 5 4 1 8 9 2 4.500 241 181 1.331
3  Argentina 5 3 2 6 7 5 1.400 225 226 0.996
4  Croatia (H) 5 2 3 4 6 6 1.000 218 205 1.063
5  France 5 1 4 2 3 8 0.375 200 233 0.858
6  Oman 5 0 5 0 1 10 0.100 160 229 0.699
Source: IHF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head set difference; 4) Head-to-head points won; 5) Set difference; 6) Points won; 7) Draw.
(H) Host
25 June 2026
12:00
Germany  2–1  Oman Court 2
Attendance: 50
Referees: José María Galeano (PAR), José María Rodríguez (PAR)
(13–15, 26–10, 15–14)
Report
25 June 2026
12:00
Argentina  2–0  France Court 3
Attendance: 100
Referees: Bulakorn Kongka (THA), Thiwakorn Sangjun (THA)
(30–16, 22–20)
Report
25 June 2026
12:00
Croatia  0–2  Brazil Central court
Attendance: 350
Referees: Sylwia Bartkowiak (POL), Weronika Łakomy (POL)
(20–22, 18–20)
Report
25 June 2026
20:00
France  1–2  Germany Court 2
Attendance: 120
Referees: Khalid Al-Hail (QAT), Ali Al-Yafei (QAT)
(21–20, 11–12, 6–10)
Report
25 June 2026
20:00
Brazil  2–0  Oman Court 3
Attendance: 50
Referees: Víctor Rollán (ESP), Sergio Martínez (ESP)
(26–10, 24–10)
Report
25 June 2026
21:00
Argentina  2–1  Croatia Central court
Attendance: 450
Referees: José María Galeano (PAR), José María Rodríguez (PAR)
(19–18, 24–31, 6–4)
Report

26 June 2026
12:00
France  0–2  Brazil Court 2
Attendance: 50
Referees: Bulakorn Kongka (THA), Thiwakorn Sangjun (THA)
(16–26, 24–26)
Report
26 June 2026
12:00
Croatia  1–2  Germany Central court
Attendance: 300
Referees: Víctor Rollán (ESP), Sergio Martínez (ESP)
(24–12, 9–22, 8–9)
Report
26 June 2026
12:00
Oman  0–2  Argentina Court 3
Attendance: 50
Referees: Sylwia Bartkowiak (POL), Weronika Łakomy (POL)
(15–22, 22–23)
Report

Knockout stage

Bracket

Championship bracket
 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
27 June
 
 
 Hungary0
 
27 June
 
 Croatia2
 
 Croatia1
 
27 June
 
 Brazil2
 
 Brazil2
 
28 June
 
 Spain0
 
 Brazil0
 
27 June
 
 Germany2
 
 Portugal1
 
27 June
 
 Argentina2
 
 Argentina1
 
27 June
 
 Germany2 Third place
 
 Germany2
 
28 June
 
 Denmark0
 
 Croatia1
 
 
 Argentina2
 
Fifth place bracket
 
5–8th place semifinalsFifth place game
 
      
 
27 June
 
 
 Hungary1
 
28 June
 
 Spain2
 
 Spain2
 
27 June
 
 Portugal1
 
 Portugal2
 
 
 Denmark0
 
Seventh place game
 
 
28 June
 
 
 Hungary0
 
 
 Denmark2
9–16th place bracket
 
9–16th place quarterfinals9–12th place semifinalsNinth place game
 
          
 
27 June
 
 
 Iran2
 
27 June
 
 Puerto Rico1
 
 Iran2
 
27 June
 
 Tunisia1
 
 Tunisia2
 
28 June
 
 United States1
 
 Iran2
 
27 June
 
 France1
 
 France2
 
27 June
 
 Australia0
 
 France2
 
27 June
 
 Italy1 Eleventh place game
 
 Oman1
 
28 June
 
 Italy2
 
 Tunisia1
 
 
 Italy2
 
13–16th place bracket
 
13–16th place semifinals13th place game
 
      
 
27 June
 
 
 Puerto Rico0
 
28 June
 
 United States2
 
 United States2
 
27 June
 
 Oman0
 
 Australia0
 
 
 Oman2
 
15th place game
 
 
28 June
 
 
 Puerto Rico0
 
 
 Australia2

9–16th place quarterfinals

27 June 2026
11:00
Oman  1–2  Italy Court 4
Attendance: 30
Referees: Víctor Rollán (ESP), Sergio Martínez (ESP)
(19–18, 16–22, 6–9)
Report

27 June 2026
11:00
France  2–0  Australia Court 3
Attendance: 125
Referees: Sylwia Bartkowiak (POL), Weronika Łakomy (POL)
(32–20, 28–16)
Report

27 June 2026
13:00
Tunisia  2–1  United States Court 4
Attendance: 36
Referees: Bulakorn Kongka (THA), Thiwakorn Sangjun (THA)
(24–20, 14–20, 14–12)
Report

27 June 2026
13:00
Iran  2–1  Puerto Rico Court 3
Attendance: 100
Referees: Dario Rupčić (CRO), Ivica Botincan (CRO)
(22–14, 16–19, 9–6)
Report

Quarterfinals

27 June 2026
11:00
Germany  2–0  Denmark Central court
Attendance: 200
Referees: Dario Rupčić (CRO), Ivica Botincan (CRO)
(22–20, 25–10)
Report

27 June 2026
11:00
Argentina  2–1  Portugal Court 2
Attendance: 80
Referees: Corina Radut (ROU), Daniela-Andreea Enache (ROU)
(24–25, 19–18, 7–2)
Report

27 June 2026
13:00
Spain  0–2  Brazil Court 2
Attendance: 80
Referees: Sylwia Bartkowiak (POL), Weronika Łakomy (POL)
(20–23, 16–22)
Report

27 June 2026
13:00
Hungary  0–2  Croatia Central court
Attendance: 350
Referees: Víctor Rollán (ESP), Sergio Martínez (ESP)
(24–25, 20–21)
Report

13–16th place semifinals

27 June 2026
19:00
Australia  0–2  Oman Court 4
Attendance: 65
Referees: Dario Rupčić (CRO), Ivica Botincan (CRO)
(15–16, 18–20)
Report

27 June 2026
21:00
Puerto Rico  0–2  United States Court 4
Attendance: 51
Referees: Bulakorn Kongka (THA), Thiwakorn Sangjun (THA)
(14–32, 12–20)
Report

9–12th place semifinals

27 June 2026
19:00
France  2–1  Italy Court 3
Attendance: 50
Referees: Bulakorn Kongka (THA), Thiwakorn Sangjun (THA)
(19–16, 14–28, 16–14)
Report

27 June 2026
21:00
Iran  2–1  Tunisia Court 3
Referees: Sidiney dos Santos (BRA), Flavio de Moura (BRA)
(19–8, 14–16, 5–0)
Report

5–8th place semifinals

27 June 2026
19:00
Denmark  0–2  Portugal Court 2
Attendance: 50
Referees: Sylwia Bartkowiak (POL), Weronika Łakomy (POL)
(21–28, 20–23)
Report

27 June 2026
21:00
Hungary  1–2  Spain Court 2
Referees: Dario Rupčić (CRO), Ivica Botincan (CRO)
(18–21, 32–30, 6–9)
Report

Semifinals

27 June 2026
19:00
Germany  2–1  Argentina Central court
Attendance: 250
Referees: Sidiney dos Santos (BRA), Flavio de Moura (BRA)
(21–20, 12–15, 9–8)
Report

27 June 2026
21:00
Croatia  1–2  Brazil Central court
Attendance: 450
Referees: Bjarne Deiters (GER), Jesper Stumpfe (GER)
(22–25, 21–20, 6–8)
Report

15th place game

28 June 2026
10:00
Puerto Rico  0–2  Australia Court 4
Referees: Corina Radut (ROU), Daniela-Andreea Enache (ROU)
(16–24, 14–17)
Report

13th place game

28 June 2026
10:00
United States  2–0  Oman Court 3
Attendance: 50
Referees: Sylwia Bartkowiak (POL), Weronika Łakomy (POL)
(17–16, 21–18)
Report

Eleventh place game

28 June 2026
10:00
Tunisia  1–2  Italy Court 2
Attendance: 50
Referees: Dario Rupčić (CRO), Ivica Botincan (CRO)
(20–21, 16–14, 2–7)
Report

Ninth place game

28 June 2026
11:00
Iran  2–1  France Court 2
Attendance: 50
Referees: Bjarne Deiters (GER), Jesper Stumpfe (GER)
(24–0, 15–23, 7–6)
Report

Seventh place game

28 June 2026
10:00
Hungary  0–2  Denmark Central court
Attendance: 150
Referees: José María Galeano (PAR), José María Rodríguez (PAR)
(20–25, 20–24)
Report

Fifth place game

28 June 2026
12:00
Spain  2–1  Portugal Court 3
Attendance: 50
Referees: Khalid Al-Hail (QAT), Ali Al-Yafei (QAT)
(16–21, 23–20, 9–8)
Report

Third place game

28 June 2026
18:00
Croatia  1–2  Argentina Central court
Attendance: 550
Referees: Víctor Rollán (ESP), Sergio Martínez (ESP)
(17–16, 16–18, 8–9)
Report

Final

28 June 2026
20:00
Brazil  0–2  Germany Central court
Attendance: 750
Referees: Corina Radut (ROU), Daniela-Andreea Enache (ROU)
(18–21, 14–21)
Report

Final ranking

Rank Team
1st place, gold medalist(s)  Germany
2nd place, silver medalist(s)  Brazil
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)  Argentina
4  Croatia
5  Spain
6  Portugal
7  Denmark
8  Hungary
9  Iran
10  France
11  Italy
12  Tunisia
13  United States
14  Oman
15  Australia
16  Puerto Rico

Statistics and awards

Awards

The awards were announced on 28 June 2026.[8]

Position Player
MVP Brazil Bruno Carlos de Oliveira
Goalkeeper Germany Moritz Ebert
Right wing Brazil Nailson Amaral
Left wing Argentina Nahuel Baptista
Playmaker Argentina Lucas Coronel
Pivot Croatia Ivan Jurić
Defender Germany Severin Henrich

References

  1. ↑ "Croatia to host the 2026 IHF Men's and Women's Beach Handball World Championships". ihf.info. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  2. ↑ "Croatia to Host 2026 IHF Men's and Women's Beach Handball World Championships". sportstravelmagazine.com. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  3. ↑ "Argentina women, Germany men are Beach Handball World Champions". ihf.info. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "2026 IHF Men's and Women's Beach Handball World Championships – qualification update". ihf.info. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "2026 IHF Beach Handball World Championships draws set for May". ihf.info. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  6. ↑ "Croatia 2026 IHF Beach Handball World Championships draw completed in Zagreb". ihf.info. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "2026 IHF Men's and Women's Beach Handball World Championships match schedule released". ihf.info. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "Croatia 2026: All-star Teams announced". ihf.info. Retrieved 28 June 2026.