The 2023 IHF World Men's Handball Championship was the 28th such event hosted by the International Handball Federation. It was held in Poland and Sweden from 11 to 29 January 2023.
Denmark were the two-time defending champions, having won the 2019 and 2021 editions, and successfully defended their title by defeating France 34–29 in the final. In doing so, Denmark became the first men's national handball team to win three consecutive world titles. Spain beat the hosts and European champions Sweden to win a World Championship bronze medal for the third time, the second in consecutive editions.
Bidding process Eight nations initially expressed interest in hosting the tournament:
However until the bidding phase expired on 15 April 2015 only three nations entered documents to bid for this event. On 21 April 2015 it was announced that Poland and Sweden had agreed intentions to jointly hosting this tournament:
and
A decision was scheduled for 4 June 2015, but the Congress was moved to 6 November 2015. Poland and Sweden were chosen as the hosts. This is the first time Poland participate as the host country at a IHF World Men's Handball Championship.
Venues The tournament took place in nine cities (four in Poland and five in Sweden): Kraków, Gdańsk, Katowice, Płock, Stockholm, Malmö, Gothenburg, Jönköping and Kristianstad. The opening game took place in Katowice while the final took place in Stockholm.
Kraków Gdańsk Stockholm Malmö Gothenburg Tauron Arena Ergo Arena Tele2 Arena Malmö ArenaScandinavium Capacity: 15,030 Capacity: 11,409 Capacity: 19,000 Capacity: 13,000 Capacity: 12,000 Sweden, in orange, and Poland, in greenare separated by the Baltic Sea. Katowice Płock Jönköping Kristianstad Spodek Orlen Arena Husqvarna Garden Kristianstad Arena Capacity: 11,036 Capacity: 5,492 Capacity: 7,000 Capacity: 4,700
Marketing The logo was unveiled on 23 August 2021. The logo was designed to be used on a dark blue background, but it may also stand alone. The logo synthetically presents a flying ball. It was inspired by a comet lighting up the sky. The symbol conveys dynamism and expression. The trails form a hand which, in combination with a ball in the foreground, create a characteristic and friendly graphic form. The logo's colors refer to the national colors of Poland and Sweden, the organizers of the Men's World Championship 2023. It carries a clear message about the sports discipline of handball. A skillful and well-balanced color split alludes to the cooperation of the event hosts and sticking together for the success of the Championship. The logo was designed by Polish design agency Studio Signature. The slogan: Stick Together was unveiled on 15 September 2021. The concept "Stick together" is the framework for all our communication and is the sender in all posts or other expressions coming from the 28th IHF Men's World Championship Poland/Sweden 2023. We use "Stick together" to talk about the big questions and the broader context, but we also use "Stick together" locally in all marketing in each host city. It symbolizes by each concept:
Stick together for fair play. Stick together as fans. Stick together as a team. Stick together to challenge. Stick together in the arena. Stick together to win.
It is also as part of both countries sustainability and capable communication concepts.
Qualification The World Championship hosts qualified directly, along with the reigning world champions. Following the current IHF rules, the number of compulsory places awarded to each continental confederation is divided as follows: 4 places each for Africa, Asia and Europe. Because there is more than one organiser from the same Continental Confederation (Europe), the number of compulsory places of the respective Continental Confederation were reduced accordingly. So only 3 compulsory places for Europe, while Africa and Asia were kept with 4 four places allocated. Starting in 2021 Pan America was split into two zones: the North America and Caribbean zone having 1 place, and the South and Central America zone having 3 places. One additional place were available for Oceania, but only when that region's national team ranked fifth or higher at the Asian Championship. Since no Oceania team placed among the top five at the Asian Championship, the IHF awarded an additional wild card. In addition, several performance places were awarded for the continental confederations (12 places), which were based on the teams ranked 1–12 in the preceding World Championship. Taking into consideration the results of the 2021 Men's World Championship, 20 out of 32 places were distributed as follows:
Distribution of places (following current IHF rules) Vacancies Details Comments Organisers 1 3 Reigning world champion 2 1 Performance places for the continental confederations 12 Based on teams ranked 1-12 in the preceding world championshipAfrica 1 Egypt ranked 7th in the 2021 Men's World ChampionshipAsia 1 Qatar ranked 8th in the 2021 Men's World ChampionshipEurope 9 9 European teams ranked 1-12 in the 2021 Men's World ChampionshipNorth America and the Caribbean 0South and Central America 1 Argentina ranked 11th in 2021 the Men's World ChampionshipOceania 0 Compulsory places for the continental confederations 16 17 compulsory places reduced by 1 due to having two organisersAfrica 4Asia 4Europe 3 1 4 compulsory places reduced by 1 due to having two organisers from EuropeNorth America and the Caribbean 1South and Central America 3Oceania 1 3 Place allocated to Oceania or an additional free wild card Wild card 4 1 Total 32
1All hosting federations are automatically entitled to take part in the World Championship. If there is more than one organiser from the same continental confederation, the number of compulsory places of the respective confederation shall be reduced accordingly. If there is more than one organiser and the organisers are not from the same confederation, the IHF Council shall decide about the reduction of the compulsory places, considering only the compulsory places of the confederations involved. 2The reigning world champion automatically qualifies for the next World Championship and, as a rule, is placed first in the first performance row. In case the reigning world champion is also hosting the next World Championship, the confederation of the reigning world champion obtains one additional performance place. 3The compulsory place for Oceania is subject to fulfilling certain conditions. The continental confederation of Oceania does not have a direct compulsory place for a confederational qualification event. The confederation of Oceania is invited to participate in the Asian qualification events. The compulsory place is awarded to Oceania if the representative from Oceania is ranked 5th or higher in the Asian qualification. If Oceania fails to rank 5th or does not participate, the IHF Council will award this place as a free wild card. 4The wild card shall be awarded by the IHF Council.
Competition Dates Host Vacancies Qualified Host nations 6 November 2015 Sochi 2 2021 World Championship 13–31 January 2021 1 2022 European Men's Handball Championship 13–30 January 2022 3 2022 Asian Men's Handball Championship 18–31 January 2022 Dammam 5 2022 South and Central American Men's Handball Championship 25–29 January 2022 Recife 4 European qualification 7 November 2021 – 16 April 2022 Various 9 2022 Nor.Ca. Men's Handball Championship 26–30 June 2022 Mexico City 1 2022 African Men's Handball Championship 11–18 July 2022 Egypt 5 Wild card 28 June 2022 — 1+1
Qualified teams Country Qualified as Qualified on Previous appearances5, 6 Co-host 16 (1958, 1967, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2021) 25 (1938, 1954, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) World champion 31 January 2021 24 (1938, 1954, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) Top five at the 2022 Asian Championship 24 January 2022 4 (2011, 2017, 2019, 2021) 1 (2015) 8 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) Top three at 2022 European Championship 25 January 2022 21 (1958, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) Top five at the 2022 Asian Championship 26 January 2022 9 (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019) Top four at 2022 South and Central American Championship 13 (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) 1 (2021) Top three at 2022 European Championship 23 (1954, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1978, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) Top four at 2022 South and Central American Championship 15 (1958, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) 6 (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) Top three at 2022 European Championship 28 January 2022 16 (1958, 1961, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2021) Top five at the 2022 Asian Championship 30 January 2022 13 (1986, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2019, 2021) European playoffs 19 March 2022 0 (debut) 16 April 2022 21 (1958, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2021) 14 (1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) 21 (1958, 1961, 1964, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) 4 ( 2009, 2011, 2013, 2019) 26 (1938, 1954, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 19907, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) 17 April 2022 4 (1997, 2001, 2003, 2021) 1 (2013) 7 (1999, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) Wild card 28 June 2022 1 (1961) 9 (1995, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2021) Winner of the 2022 Nor.Ca. Championship 30 June 2022 6 (1964, 1970, 1974, 1993, 1995, 2001) Top five at 2022 African Men's Handball Championship 15 July 2022 7 (1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2021) 15 (1967, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) 1 (2021) 16 (1964, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) 18 July 2022 15 (1974, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2021) 5 Bold indicates champion for that year 6 Italic indicates host country for that year 7 From both German teams only East Germany was qualified in 1990
Draw The draw took place on 2 July 2022 at the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice.
Seeding Following ranking of previous World Championship, and following IHF rules.
Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4 Hold Title (DEN as Europe 3)Europe 1 (Host SWE)Europe 2Europe 4Europe 5Europe 6Europe 7Africa 1 Asia 1Europe 8Europe 9South America 1Europe 10Host (POL as Europe 12)Europe 11Europe 13 Europe 14Europe 15South America 2Asia 2Asia 3Africa 2South America 3Africa 3 South America 4Africa 4Africa 5Asia 4Asia 5North America 1Wild card 1Wild card 2
Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4 (Hold) (Host) (Host)
Groups Each host country could assign one qualified team to each host city. Therefore Spain played in group A (Krakow), Norway in group F (Krakow), and Denmark in group H (Malmö). Germany in group E (Katowice), Iceland in group D (Kristianstad) and Croatia in group G (Jönköping).
Group A (Krakow) Group B (Katowice) Group C (Göteborg) Group D (Kristianstad) Group E (Katowice) Group F (Krakow) Group G (Jönköping) Group H (Malmö) (Host) (Host)
Referees The referee pairs were selected on 16 November 2022.