Handball World Championship is the Swedish name for the World Handball Championship, the largest recurring championship for national teams in the sport. The tournament is played every two years for both men and women under the auspices of the International Handball Federation (IHF) and brings together the top nations from all continents.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
What is the World Handball Championship in simple words?
The World Handball Championships is an international championship where the world's best national handball teams meet to determine an official world champion. The men's and women's teams play separate tournaments with group play and finals over a few intense weeks.
How often are the World Handball Championships played and what time of year?
The Men's World Championship has been played every two years since 1993, having previously been organised more irregularly. The women's championship is also played every two years, often during the winter months, with an emphasis on December.
How has Sweden performed at the World Handball Championships?
Sweden's men's team is one of the most successful with four World Cup golds (1954, 1958, 1990, 1999), four silvers and four bronzes in total. Sweden has also been the host nation several times, including in 1954, 1967, 1993 and 2011 for men and 2023 for women.
HISTORY AND FUN FACTS
The first men's World Handball Championship was played in 1938 in Germany and had a much smaller number of participating nations than today. The first women's World Championship was organised in 1957, establishing a parallel championship for women as well.
Since then, the World Handball Championships have grown into a global event with qualifiers on every continent and play-offs that can now include up to 32 teams. Television broadcasts and streaming have made the tournament a regular highlight of the international sports calendar.
One notable fact is that in 2023, Sweden became the first country ever to organise both the men's (in January) and women's (in November-December) World Championships in the same year. Another is that Sweden historically shares the top spot in terms of total World Cup medals, together with France and others.
SWEDISH PLACINGS AND MEDALS - IN FIGURES
| Area | Figure / data |
|---|---|
| Swedish men's World Cup gold | 4 gold (1954, 1958, 1990, 1999). |
| Swedish men's overall World Cup medals | 4 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze (12 medals). |
| Number of World Cup participations of the men's national team | 27 participations, missed only in 2007 and 2013. |
| Best ranking women | World Cup semi-finals and 4th place in 2017 and 2023. |
| Women's national team's World Cup participation | About 14 played world championships. |
| Swedish men's World Cup silver medallist | Silver in the 2021 World Cup in Egypt. |
| Swedish men's World Cup medal trend 1990-2021 | 2 gold, several silver/bronze during "Bengan Boys" and later. |
| Sweden's poorer performance in recent years | For example, 15th place in a recent World Cup. |
Statistics show that Sweden is one of the most successful nations in the World Handball Championships, especially on the men's side. At the same time, the development of the women's national team, with semi-final places in recent years, has meant that their World Cup history has also become increasingly prominent.
MEANING, DEFINITION AND USE
As a term, the World Handball Championships refers to the official world handball championships organised by the IHF for men and women. The term is used in sports journalism, statistics, historical reviews, television productions and digital content to describe both ongoing and past championships.
In the Swedish context, the World Handball Championships are strongly associated with the success of the national teams, classic matches and profiles that have emerged through their efforts in the championships. The term also serves as a collective name for qualifying, final tournament, events around the matches and supporter activities.
The World Handball Championship is widely used online as a search term to find fixtures, tables, squads, odds, tickets and history. The term thus has both a strictly competitive core and a broader role linked to experience, travel and media.
WHERE AND IN WHAT CONTEXT THE TOURNAMENT IS PLAYED
The World Championship is played in one or more host nations designated by the IHF following applications and votes several years in advance. Matches are distributed across several venues in different cities, with group, intermediate and final games scheduled to utilise capacity and reach different regions.
Historically, most championships have been held in Europe, but the World Cup has also been played on other continents, contributing to the globalisation of handball. More recent championships have often been shared between two or three host countries to spread the event geographically.
In Sweden, the World Handball Championships are marked by extensive TV and web broadcasts, special programmes and debates, especially when Swedish teams are chasing medals. The year 2023, with two home championships, is often highlighted as a historic year for Swedish handball.
HANDBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PRACTICE
In practice, the World Handball Championships serve as the main international arena where national teams test themselves against the best in the world and chase medals. Federations and coaching teams plan long qualifying cycles, training camps and squad selections with the aim of being at their best during the championships.
For host nations, a World Cup places great demands on logistics, security, ticket sales and the reception of nations and supporters. A well-run championship can have an economic impact, strengthen the brand and increase long-term interest in handball, especially among children and young people.
At club level, the World Handball Championships are used as concrete study material: coaches analyse sequences from top matches to inspire playing systems, defensive solutions and counter-attacking play. Players follow matches to observe the roles of their positions, finishing techniques and decision-making at top speed.
EVERYDAY LIFE AND PRACTICAL EXAMPLES
In everyday Swedish handball life, series matches and training sessions are sometimes adjusted to avoid clashing with important World Cup finals matches in which Sweden participates. Associations organise joint screenings and activities around the national matches, which creates extra life around both elite and grassroots activities.
For elite players, the World Handball Championships are a clear career milestone: strong performances at club and national level can lead to World Championship play, and good performances at the Championships can attract interest from bigger clubs and leagues. In addition, youth teams and juniors use past World Cups as a source of inspiration and a benchmark for their own development.
For supporters, the World Handball Championships are a recurring social event, with TV sofas, sports bars and supporter trips becoming important parts of the experience. When the championship is played in Europe or the Nordic countries, it is common for Swedish heels to be present, reinforcing the sense of community around the national teams.
