Oman Handball to mark 9th appearance at Zagreb

MUSCAT, SEPT 27

The International Handball Federation (IHF) confirmed the dates of the 2026 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championship which will take place in Zagreb, Croatia, from 23 to 28 June 2026. The upcoming globe event in 2026 will mark the first time Croatia will host the prestigious global event, which will be staged on the scenic shores of Lake Jarun, offering players and fans a unique blend of high-level competition and the country’s natural and cultural charm. Also, the next edition of the world beach handball event will mark Oman’s ninth appearance in these championships.

Oman’s team under direct supervision of the national experienced head coach, Hamood al Hasani, will begin their preparatory programme upon approval by the national team committee. Oman’s rich history at the World Championship began with a debut came in 2004 in Hurghada, Egypt. Since then, the team has been a regular participant, with notable finishes including 4th place in 2009 (Taipei), 8th place in 2012 (Musannah, Oman), 6th place in 2014 (Brazil), and 7th place in 2016 (Hungary). The team also competed in Thailand (2017), Russia (2018), and most recently in China (2023), where they finished 15th. Oman had also qualified for the 2020 edition in Italy, which was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2026 edition will be the sixth time the Beach Handball World Championships are held in Europe, following Spain (2008), Turkey (2010), Hungary (2016), Russia (2018), and Greece (2022).

A total of 32 teams (men and women) will compete for world glory. Among the qualified teams, Oman’s national beach handball team will proudly represent Asia after winning the 10th Asian Beach Handball Championship which was hosted in Muscat in last May. They will be joined by Iran, the continental runners-up, as Asia’s two representatives. Oman had managed to blank Iran 2-0 in the final summit clash of the Asian event. The opening half concluded at 21-18 while the deciding half finished at 14-10.

As many as ten men’s teams secured qualification including: Oman and Iran from Asia, host and defending champion Croatia, and six European powerhouses including Germany, Spain, Hungary, France, Portugal, and Denmark along with Italy. Qualification is still pending for teams from Africa, Oceania, South America, Central and North America, and the Caribbean.

In the women’s category, nine teams confirmed their slots including: Asia’s Vietnam and the Philippines, alongside Europe’s Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Greece, defending champions Germany, and the hosts Croatia. The remaining qualifiers from Africa and the Americas will be determined in due course.