Great Britain Face Kosovo in 2027 World Championship Qualifiers – Phase 1
The European Handball Federation (EHF) has confirmed that Great Britain will face Kosovo in Phase 1 of the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship European Qualification.
The draw, held at the EHF headquarters in Vienna, paired the two nations in a home-and-away tie to be played between 29 October and 2 November 2025. The winner will progress to Phase 2 of the qualification pathway.
The Road to Germany 2027
The 30th IHF Men’s World Championship will take place in Germany from 13–31 January 2027.
A total of 37 European nations have entered the qualification process, competing for 14 places at the tournament. Host nation Germany and reigning world champions Denmark qualify automatically, with the remaining teams battling through three knockout phases to secure their spot.
In Phase 1, six lower-ranked nations - Türkiye, Luxembourg, Kosovo, Latvia, Cyprus, and Great Britain - will compete in three two-legged ties. The winners will advance to Phase 2, joining nations such as Greece, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovakia, Belgium, Finland, and Israel.
FIXTURE DETAILS
- First Leg: 29–30 October 2025 (Kosovo – home)
- Second Leg: 1–2 November 2025 (Great Britain – home)
The aggregate winner will move forward to the next qualification round, scheduled for March 2026.
Building Momentum
This tie marks an exciting opportunity for the Great Britain Men’s National Team to continue its progress on the European stage. Following steady growth in recent international performances, the squad will be aiming to deliver a strong showing against a well-established Kosovo side.
British Handball Chair Stephen Neilson said:
“This is another important step for our men’s programme. Competing in World Championship qualification is a fantastic platform to test ourselves, build experience, and showcase the progress being made across British handball.”
LOOKING AHEAD
The winners of the Phase 1 fixtures will progress to Phase 2 in March 2026, followed by Phase 3 in May 2026, which will determine the final European qualifiers for the World Championship in Germany.
Get behind Great Britain as they take on Kosovo in their quest for a place at the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship!
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