The draw has heightened anticipation for the 2027 IHF Men’s Handball World Championship on home soil: Germany’s men’s national team will face Serbia, Tunisia, and Uruguay in Group A of the preliminary round. The outcome was determined during the draw for the 30th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship 2027, held on Wednesday evening at Munich’s Hofbräuhaus.

As a result, it is now confirmed that the team led by head coach Alfred Gislason will open the tournament against Tunisia on 13 January 2027.

The draw in Munich was conducted by Anja Althaus (Women’s National Team Manager and 2027 World Championship ambassador), former German basketball international Svenja Brunckhorst, German ice hockey international Dominik Kahun, and former national team player and World Championship ambassador Stefan Kretzschmar.

Germany’s preliminary round schedule is now set. Following the opening match against Tunisia on 13 January, the DHB team will face Uruguay at Munich’s SAP Garden on 15 January, before concluding the preliminary round against Serbia on 17 January. The exact throw-off times will be announced shortly. Germany’s matches will be broadcast by ProSiebenSat.1 and Dyn.

Germany had been seeded as the top team in Group A prior to the draw and will play all preliminary round matches at the SAP Garden in Munich. To qualify for the Main Round Group I and advance to the next stage of the tournament in Cologne, Germany must finish at least third in its group. In that case, the German team would face the top three teams from Group B.

Group B features Italy, coached by German coach Bob Hanning, alongside Egypt, Cape Verde, and Saudi Arabia, all competing for a place in the main round.

The preliminary round of the 2027 World Championship will take place from 13 to 19 January 2027 in Munich, Magdeburg, Stuttgart, Hanover, Cologne, and Kiel. Information on the match schedule, ticketing, and venues can be found on the tournament’s official website.

2027 World Championship Preliminary Round Draw

Group A – Munich
Germany
Serbia
Tunisia
Uruguay

Group B – Stuttgart
Egypt
Italy
Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia

Group C – Munich
Croatia
Spain
Chile
Türkiye

Group D – Stuttgart
Argentina
France
Brazil
Kuwait

Group E – Kiel
Sweden
Norway
Greece
Qatar

Group F – Magdeburg
Portugal
Faroe Islands
Poland
Algeria

Group G – Kiel
Denmark
Slovenia
United States
Angola

Group H – Magdeburg
Iceland
North Macedonia
Bahrain
Japan