2026 European Women's Handball Championship qualification

This article describes the qualification for the 2026 European Women's Handball Championship.

Qualification system

Nine teams played in phase 1 in a single round-robin system, with the group winners advancing to phase 2 and join the remaining teams.

Qualification phase 1

The groups were played at a single venue.

Draw

The draw took place on 20 December 2024.[1]

Seeding

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Lithuania
 Luxembourg 		 Bulgaria
 Cyprus
 Great Britain 		 Belgium
 Estonia
 Malta

Groups

Group 1

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Bosnia and Herzegovina (H) 2 2 0 0 56 35 +21 4 Qualification phase 2
2  Estonia 2 1 0 1 55 56 −1 2
3  Great Britain 2 0 0 2 40 60 −20 0
Source: EHF
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
7 March 2025
17:00 		Estonia  20–31  Bosnia and Herzegovina KSPC Mejdan, Tuzla
Attendance: 400
Referees: Pavićević, Martinović (MNE)
Gorbatsjova 5 (8–14) Bošnjak 7
1×Yellow card 4×number 2 in light blue rounded square Report  2×number 2 in light blue rounded square
8 March 2025
17:00 		Great Britain  25–35  Estonia KSPC Mejdan, Tuzla
Attendance: 100
Referees: Pavićević, Martinović (MNE)
Luke 9 (14–19) Molkova 11
1×Yellow card 1×number 2 in light blue rounded square Report  5×number 2 in light blue rounded square
9 March 2025
17:00 		Bosnia and Herzegovina  25–15  Great Britain KSPC Mejdan, Tuzla
Attendance: 450
Referees: Pavićević, Martinović (MNE)
Topčić 7 (12–9) Kesselring 4
 3×number 2 in light blue rounded square Report 1×Yellow card 4×number 2 in light blue rounded square

Group 2

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Lithuania 2 2 0 0 66 31 +35 4 Qualification phase 2
2  Bulgaria (H) 2 1 0 1 60 41 +19 2
3  Malta 2 0 0 2 22 76 −54 0
Source: EHF
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
7 March 2025
17:30 		Bulgaria  37–14  Malta Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna
Attendance: 750
Referees: Bočáková, Jánošíková (SVK)
Spasova 10 (19–9) Schiavone 5
1×Yellow card 6×number 2 in light blue rounded square Report  2×number 2 in light blue rounded square
8 March 2025
15:00 		Malta  8–39  Lithuania Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna
Attendance: 150
Referees: Bočáková, Jánošíková (SVK)
Petrella 3 (3–17) Andronik 7
 3×number 2 in light blue rounded square Report 1×Yellow card 3×number 2 in light blue rounded square
9 March 2025
13:00 		Lithuania  27–23  Bulgaria Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna
Attendance: 1,000
Referees: Bočáková, Jánošíková (SVK)
Pilikauskaitė 8 (16–11) Panayotova 6
 4×number 2 in light blue rounded square Report 1×Yellow card 4×number 2 in light blue rounded square

Group 3

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Belgium 2 2 0 0 54 41 +13 4 Qualification phase 2
2  Cyprus (H) 2 1 0 1 44 42 +2 2
3  Luxembourg 2 0 0 2 44 59 −15 0
Source: EHF
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
7 March 2025
18:00 		Cyprus  18–21  Belgium Eleftheria Indoor Hall, Nicosia
Attendance: 800
Referees: Peretz, Schwartz (ISR)
Papa 8 (12–12) Antonissen 6
 1×number 2 in light blue rounded square Report 1×Yellow card 3×number 2 in light blue rounded square
8 March 2025
18:00 		Belgium  33–23  Luxembourg Eleftheria Indoor Hall, Nicosia
Attendance: 300
Referees: Peretz, Schwartz (ISR)
Antonissen 8 (17–10) Dautaj 6
2×Yellow card 3×number 2 in light blue rounded square 1×Red card Report  5×number 2 in light blue rounded square
9 March 2025
18:00 		Luxembourg  21–26  Cyprus Eleftheria Indoor Hall, Nicosia
Attendance: 550
Referees: Peretz, Schwartz (ISR)
Cilovic 6 (8–17) Konstantinidou 10
1×Yellow card 3×number 2 in light blue rounded square Report 2×Yellow card 1×number 2 in light blue rounded square 1×Red card

Qualification phase 2

The group winners of phase 1 will join the remaining teams.

Draw

The draw took place on 20 March 2025.[2][3]


Seeding

The seeding was announced on 11 March 2025.[2]

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
 France
 Sweden
 Netherlands
 Germany
 Montenegro
 Spain 		 Slovenia
 Croatia
 Austria
  Switzerland
 Serbia
 Iceland 		 North Macedonia
 Ukraine
 Portugal
 Italy
 Greece
 Kosovo 		 Faroe Islands
 Finland
 Israel
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Lithuania
 Belgium

Groups

Group 1

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  France 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Final tournament
2  Croatia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Kosovo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible final tournament based on ranking
4  Finland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 October 2025. Source: EHF
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.
15–16 October 2025 France  v  Kosovo
Report
15–16 October 2025 Croatia  v  Finland
Report
18–19 October 2025 Finland  v  France
Report
18–19 October 2025 Kosovo  v  Croatia
Report
4–5 March 2026 Croatia  v  France
Report
4–5 March 2026 Finland  v  Kosovo
Report
7–8 March 2026 France  v  Croatia
Report
7–8 March 2026 Kosovo  v  Finland
Report
7–8 April 2026 Kosovo  v  France
Report
7–8 April 2026 Finland  v  Croatia
Report
12 April 2026 France  v  Finland
Report
12 April 2026 Croatia  v  Kosovo
Report

Group 2

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Final tournament
2   Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible final tournament based on ranking
4  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 October 2025. Source: EHF
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.
15–16 October 2025 Netherlands  v  Italy
Report
15–16 October 2025 Switzerland  v  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Report
18–19 October 2025 Bosnia and Herzegovina  v  Netherlands
Report
18–19 October 2025 Italy  v   Switzerland
Report
4–5 March 2026 Switzerland  v  Netherlands
Report
4–5 March 2026 Bosnia and Herzegovina  v  Italy
Report
7–8 March 2026 Netherlands  v   Switzerland
Report
7–8 March 2026 Italy  v  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Report
7–8 April 2026 Italy  v  Netherlands
Report
7–8 April 2026 Bosnia and Herzegovina  v   Switzerland
Report
12 April 2026 Netherlands  v  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Report
12 April 2026 Switzerland  v  Italy
Report

Group 3

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Final tournament
2  Slovenia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  North Macedonia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible final tournament based on ranking
4  Belgium 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 October 2025. Source: EHF
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.
15–16 October 2025 Germany  v  North Macedonia
Report
15–16 October 2025 Slovenia  v  Belgium
Report
18–19 October 2025 Belgium  v  Germany
Report
18–19 October 2025 North Macedonia  v  Slovenia
Report
4–5 March 2026 Slovenia  v  Germany
Report
4–5 March 2026 Belgium  v  North Macedonia
Report
7–8 March 2026 Germany  v  Slovenia
Report
7–8 March 2026 North Macedonia  v  Belgium
Report
7–8 April 2026 North Macedonia  v  Germany
Report
7–8 April 2026 Belgium  v  Slovenia
Report
12 April 2026 Germany  v  Belgium
Report
12 April 2026 Slovenia  v  North Macedonia
Report

Group 4

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Montenegro 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Final tournament
2  Iceland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible final tournament based on ranking
4  Faroe Islands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 October 2025. Source: EHF
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.
15–16 October 2025 Montenegro  v  Portugal
Report
15–16 October 2025 Iceland  v  Faroe Islands
Report
18–19 October 2025 Faroe Islands  v  Montenegro
Report
18–19 October 2025 Portugal  v  Iceland
Report
4–5 March 2026 Iceland  v  Montenegro
Report
4–5 March 2026 Faroe Islands  v  Portugal
Report
7–8 March 2026 Montenegro  v  Iceland
Report
7–8 March 2026 Portugal  v  Faroe Islands
Report
7–8 April 2026 Portugal  v  Montenegro
Report
7–8 April 2026 Faroe Islands  v  Iceland
Report
12 April 2026 Montenegro  v  Faroe Islands
Report
12 April 2026 Iceland  v  Portugal
Report

Group 5

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Sweden 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Final tournament
2  Serbia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Ukraine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible final tournament based on ranking
4  Lithuania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 October 2025. Source: EHF
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.
15–16 October 2025 Sweden  v  Ukraine
Report
15–16 October 2025 Serbia  v  Lithuania
Report
18–19 October 2025 Lithuania  v  Sweden
Report
18–19 October 2025 Ukraine  v  Serbia
Report
4–5 March 2026 Serbia  v  Sweden
Report
4–5 March 2026 Lithuania  v  Ukraine
Report
7–8 March 2026 Sweden  v  Serbia
Report
7–8 March 2026 Ukraine  v  Lithuania
Report
7–8 April 2026 Ukraine  v  Sweden
Report
7–8 April 2026 Lithuania  v  Serbia
Report
12 April 2026 Sweden  v  Lithuania
Report
12 April 2026 Serbia  v  Ukraine
Report

Group 6

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Final tournament
2  Austria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Greece 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible final tournament based on ranking
4  Israel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 October 2025. Source: EHF
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.
15–16 October 2025 Spain  v  Greece
Report
15–16 October 2025 Austria  v  Israel
Report
18–19 October 2025 Israel  v  Spain
Report
18–19 October 2025 Greece  v  Austria
Report
4–5 March 2026 Austria  v  Spain
Report
4–5 March 2026 Israel  v  Greece
Report
7–8 March 2026 Spain  v  Austria
Report
7–8 March 2026 Greece  v  Israel
Report
7–8 April 2026 Greece  v  Spain
Report
7–8 April 2026 Israel  v  Austria
Report
12 April 2026 Spain  v  Israel
Report
12 April 2026 Austria  v  Greece
Report

Ranking of third-placed teams

The results against the fourth-placed team are omitted.

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 1 A3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Final tournament
2 2 B2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 3 C3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 4 D3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 5 E3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 6 F3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 October 2025. Source: EHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) draw.

EHF Euro Cup

The EHF Euro Cup is played between the 2026 co-hosts plus the three best-placed teams of the 2024 European Championship.[2]

Preliminary round

Group 1

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Norway 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Semifinals
2  Poland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Romania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Slovakia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 October 2025. Source: EHF
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.
15–16 October 2025 Norway  v  Romania
Report
15–16 October 2025 Poland  v  Slovakia
Report
18–19 October 2025 Slovakia  v  Norway
Report
18–19 October 2025 Romania  v  Poland
Report
4–5 March 2026 Poland  v  Norway
Report
4–5 March 2026 Slovakia  v  Romania
Report
7–8 March 2026 Norway  v  Poland
Report
7–8 March 2026 Romania  v  Slovakia
Report
8–9 April 2026 Romania  v  Norway
Report
8–9 April 2026 Slovakia  v  Poland
Report
11–12 April 2026 Norway  v  Slovakia
Report
11–12 April 2026 Poland  v  Romania
Report

Group 2

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Denmark 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Semifinals
2  Hungary 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Czech Republic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Turkey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 October 2025. Source: EHF
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.
15–16 October 2025 Denmark  v  Czech Republic
Report
15–16 October 2025 Hungary  v  Turkey
Report
18–19 October 2025 Turkey  v  Denmark
Report
18–19 October 2025 Czech Republic  v  Hungary
Report
4–5 March 2026 Hungary  v  Denmark
Report
4–5 March 2026 Turkey  v  Czech Republic
Report
7–8 March 2026 Denmark  v  Hungary
Report
7–8 March 2026 Czech Republic  v  Turkey
Report
8–9 April 2026 Czech Republic  v  Denmark
Report
8–9 April 2026 Turkey  v  Hungary
Report
11–12 April 2026 Denmark  v  Turkey
Report
11–12 April 2026 Hungary  v  Czech Republic
Report

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
21 September
 
 
 
 
27 September
 
 
 
 
 
21 September
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third place
 
 
27 September
 
 
 
 
 
 

Semifinals

21–27 September 2026 A1 v B2
21–27 September 2026 B1 v A2

Third place game

21–27 September 2026 LSF1 v LSF2

Final

21–27 September 2026 WSF1 v WSF2

Qualified teams

Team Qualification method Date of qualification App First Last Streak Best placement in tournament Rank[4]
 Czech Republic Host nation 8 March 2024 9th 1994 2024 2 Eighth place (1994, 2002) TBD
 Poland 10th 1996 7 Fifth place (1998) TBD
 Romania 16th 1994 10 Third place (2010) TBD
 Slovakia 4th 2 Twelfth place (1994, 2014) TBD
 Turkey 2nd 2024 Twentieth place (2024) TBD
 Denmark Top three at 2024 edition 13 December 2024 17th 1994 17 Champions (1994, 1996, 2002) TBD
 Norway Champions (Ten times)[a] TBD
 Hungary 15 December 2024 Champions (2000) TBD

Notes

  1. ^ Norway have won in 1998, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2022 and 2024.

References

  1. ^ "Path to Women's EHF EURO 2026 begins with phase 1 Qualifiers". eurohandball.com. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Draw procedure for 2026 Qualifiers released; new final tournament for EHF EURO Cup". eurohandball.com. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Groups determined for Women's EHF EURO 2026 Qualifiers". eurohandball.com. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  4. ^ https://ehfcl.eurohandball.com/media/cfvd5lj3/ehf_womens-four-year-national-team-ranking.pdf
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.