European world champions aim to defend titles

10 European nations will take the sand when the IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships begin in Kazan, Russia on Tuesday.

2017 European champions Spain and defending world champions Croatia are among the favourites in the men’s competition, while European title holders Norway and reigning world champions Spain enter the women’s tournament as two of the strongest contenders for the trophy.

The event in Kazan marks the eighth edition of the Beach Handball World Championship. Matches will be played from July 24 to 29 and streamed live on the official website.

In the men’s competition, Europe will be represented by hosts Russia, Hungary, Sweden and Denmark, alongside Spain and Croatia. Croatia will play from group A, coming up against Iran, Uruguay and Argentina. Spain and Hungary will begin their campaigns in Group B, taking on Vietnam and New Zealand.

Denmark are the only European side in group C, meeting Qatar, Oman and Australia in the preliminary round. group D is comprised of record title winners Brazil (four trophies), Russia, the United States and Sweden.

From Europe, hosts Russia, Poland, Denmark, Greece and France will vie for the title, alongside the current world and European champions, Spain and Norway. Spain will start their title defence in preliminary round group A, meeting Australia, Greece and Paraguay. Poland and France will begin in group B, taking on Uruguay and Chinese Taipei.

In group C, hosts Russia face three teams from three different continents: Brazil, Thailand and the United States. The Scandinavian squads from Norway and Denmark will play Vietnam and Mexico in group D.

The top three teams in each group will progress to the main round, while the bottom-ranked side will move on to the consolation round. From the main round, the first four teams in each group qualify for the quarter-finals.

Results updates will be available on the IHF website: men’s competition and women’s competition.