Handball

What is handball?

Handball is the seven-a-side indoor goal sport — fast breaks, jump shots past flying goalkeepers, 60-plus goals a night — Olympic since 1972 and a first-rank professional sport across Europe, governed worldwide by the IHF.^[1] [2]

How does handball work?

Two 30-minute halves, rolling substitutions, seven-meter throws for fouled chances; national teams contest the biennial IHF World Championships and continental EUROs on top of Olympic cycles, while the club game runs through Europe's leagues — Germany's Bundesliga, France's LNH, the Spanish Liga — into the EHF Champions League and its Cologne final four.^[2] [3]

Where is handball popular?

Scandinavia and the Balkans breathe it — Denmark's men have won a record four straight world titles, Norway's women a fifth crown in December 2025 — with France, Germany, Spain, Hungary and Egypt among the powers, and the sport an arena staple from Paris to Cairo.^[2] [4]

What are the most important competitions in handball?

• The Olympic tournaments — handball's global stage.^[4]
• The IHF World Championships — biennial, men's and women's.^[2]
• The EHF EURO — Europe's continental summit.^[3]
• The EHF Champions League — the club game's crown, decided in Cologne and Budapest.^[3]

How is handball awarded?

• National-team caps and championship medals — Worlds, EUROs and Olympic rosters.^[2]
• IHF and EHF rankings and tournament All-Star teams and MVPs.^[2] [3]
• Professional club contracts in Europe's leagues — transfers certified through the federations.^[3]