All three preliminary round matches of the German national team in Munich scheduled for prime time

Preparations for the 30th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship 2027 in Germany continue to take shape: the match schedule for the tournament from 13 to 31 January 2027 has now been confirmed. Fans can therefore already see, seven months before the start of the tournament, when matches will be played across the six host cities of Munich, Stuttgart, Kiel, Magdeburg, Hanover and Cologne.

The playing times for the German national team have also been confirmed. Alfred Gislason’s team will face Tunisia in the opening match of the tournament in Munich on 13 January, Uruguay on 15 January and Serbia on 17 January. All three matches will throw off at 20:30 at the SAP Garden.

“With the match schedule now confirmed, the 2027 World Championship becomes even more tangible for many fans. The draw has already created excitement for the sporting matchups, and now visitors can start planning their own World Championship experience. The fact that the German national team will play all of its preliminary round matches in prime time creates attractive conditions for fans both in the arena and watching from home,” says Mark Schober, Chief Executive Officer of the German Handball Federation (DHB).

The opening day on 13 January will follow a special format. The first match of the tournament will begin at 17:30, followed by the official opening ceremony before Germany takes the court in the evening for its opening match. On all other preliminary round matchdays, games will generally start at 18:00 and 20:30. The preliminary round will be played from 13 to 19 January in Munich, Stuttgart, Kiel and Magdeburg.

For the main round, which will be staged in Cologne and Hanover, throw-off times are scheduled for 15:30, 18:00 and 20:30. Should Germany qualify for the main round and subsequently for the quarter-finals in Cologne, Alfred Gislason’s team would also play its matches at 20:30.

An exception applies to Group D, which includes France. Matches in this group will begin either at 18:00 or 18:30 and at 20:30 or 21:00. Final confirmation of these match times will follow consultations with the French broadcast rights holders. The same applies – provided France qualifies accordingly – to matches in Main Round Group II in Cologne (15:30 / 16:00, 18:00 / 18:30, 20:30 / 21:00).

An overview of the throw-off times for all matches can be found in the official match schedule of the 2027 Men’s Handball World Championship. The IHF reserves the right to amend the schedule at any time.

The 30th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship will take place from 13 to 31 January 2027 in Munich, Stuttgart, Kiel, Magdeburg, Hanover and Cologne. In Germany, matches will be broadcast by ProSieben and Dyn. Tickets, the match schedule and further information about the tournament are available at www.handball2027.com.

Tickets are currently still available in particular for Group E in Kiel featuring Sweden and Norway, as well as for the non-German main round matches in Hanover and Cologne. Current availability can be viewed in the ticket shop. Additional ticket contingents will become available with the start of the third ticket sales phase on 4 September. At that stage, no new tickets for matchdays involving the German national team are expected to go on sale.