The draw ceremony for the 19th edition of the IHF Men's Handball Club World Championship was held today at the headquarters of the International Handball Federation in Basel, Switzerland.
Egypt will host the upcoming edition of the tournament in the New Administrative Capital from September 24 to October 1, featuring some of the world's strongest handball clubs.
2026 Handball Club World Championship Draw Results
The participating teams were divided into two groups as follows:
Group A
- Barcelona, Spain.
- Montada Moroccan club.
- Pinheiros, Brazil.
- Winner of Zamalek vs Los Angeles USA.
Group A includes strong contenders, led by Spanish giants Barcelona, with several teams aiming to compete for a place in the later stages.
Group B
- Füchse Berlin, Germany.
- Al Ahly, Egypt.
- Burgan, Kuwait.
- Winner of Veszprém Hungary vs Sydney Australia.
Al Ahly will face a challenging group featuring German side Füchse Berlin, making the competition highly anticipated.
New Tournament Format
The 2026 edition introduces a new competition format after increasing the number of participating clubs from nine to ten.
Six teams will qualify directly for the group stage, while four teams will compete in preliminary matches to decide the final two qualification spots.
Teams eliminated early will continue playing placement matches to determine ninth and tenth places.
Final Stages of the Championship
After the group stage, teams will compete according to their rankings.
Group winners will compete for the championship title, while second-place teams will battle for the bronze medal.
Teams finishing third and fourth in their groups will compete for positions from fifth to eighth.
Al Ahly's Ambitions in the Club World Championship
Al Ahly enters the tournament with major ambitions, relying on its international experience and strong squad to compete against the world's top handball clubs.
Playing on home soil gives the Egyptian club extra motivation as it aims to achieve a strong result in front of its supporters.
When will the 2026 Handball Club World Championship take place?
The tournament will be held in Egypt from September 24 to October 1, 2026.
Which teams are in Al Ahly's group?
Al Ahly is in Group B with Füchse Berlin, Burgan, and the winner of Veszprém vs Sydney.
How many teams will participate in the tournament?
The 2026 edition features 10 clubs instead of nine.
Where was the draw ceremony held?
The draw took place at the International Handball Federation headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.
