The Great Britain senior men's squad have made history as winning the IHF Emerging Nations Championships in Bulgaria. It is the first ever title of this event, having played in it since its inception. The final was a thriller, as GB held a dominate performance to beat the hosts Bulgaria in a tense match. The home crowd were out in force as they willed Bulgaria to keep fighting throughout the match. This triumph is a testament to the resilience, hard work, and growing strength of British handball, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s development across the UK.
UK Sport recently announced their continued investment in the sport for the next cycle, allowing the GB squads to compete and continue to progress. This funding and support have been instrumental in providing the necessary resources for British athletes to compete, develop, and succeed on the international stage. Already the GB men's squad have surpassed their target of winning this competition which was predicted for 2027.
Earlier in the tournament, GB had faced Bulgaria in their group phase, suffering a defeat against the hosts. But they took the other group games in their stride to get to the knock out phases. In the semi-finals, GB were against the USA, who had 5 of their players recently in the IHF World Championships. GB came back from a 4-goal deficit to control the game, despite USA being the favourites of the match and the tournament, taking them into a rematch against Bulgaria in the final.
The transformation from their earlier defeat to their final performance was remarkable, demonstrating the depth of talent and development within the squad. Bulgaria started strongly, taking an early 5:2 lead, but Great Britain responded with a 3:0 scoring run, edging ahead at 7:6. A pivotal moment came in the 19th minute when Bulgaria’s top scorer, Svetlin Dimitrov, received a red card, shifting the momentum in Britain’s favour.
Several players delivered standout performances to secure the win:
- Francisco Pereira led the charge with 7 goals and 7 assists, showcasing his playmaking ability.
- Goalkeeper Kylian Ferrier was immense in goal, making 13 crucial saves with a 34% efficiency rate, shutting down Bulgaria’s attacking threats.
Reflecting on the achievement, Ricardo Vasconcelos praised the team’s resilience:“This is an exceptional achievement for Great Britain, testament to the amazing work that clubs in the home nations have been developing. We hope that the desire, resilience, quality, and pride demonstrated by the boys serve as an inspiration to the hundreds of young athletes in our pathway. They fought against all odds and, once again, evidenced the potential that handball has in GB, given the right time and support.”This success isn’t just about winning a title—it’s about building a legacy. The victory underlines the work being done across handball in the UK, both in performance pathways and grassroots development, ensuring a strong foundation for the future.'This success is a clear indicator that investment in performance and development is paying off—and that British Handball is becoming more competitive on the global stage. This experience gained in this tournament will be invaluable for the next generation of players. With continued efforts in grassroots development, the pipeline of talent is growing, ensuring a sustainable future for the sport.
While the men’s team celebrates their historic victory, Great Britain’s women’s team has also been making strides on the international stage, recently returning from the EHF Phase 1 qualifiers. Competing against some of Europe’s strongest emerging teams, the squad demonstrated significant progress and resilience, marking another crucial step in British handball’s development.With structured pathways, continued investment, and a passionate community driving the sport forward, handball in this country has never been in a stronger position.As Great Britain lifts the 2025 IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship trophy they lay the foundation for a new era of handball in the UK.
