IHF CLUB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2026: Barcelona defend the crown – Berlin and Veszprém chase the world title
Ten clubs representing all six continents will compete at the 2026 IHF Men’s Club World Championship, which will be played in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital from September 24 to October 1.
FC Barcelona arrive as defending champions, while EHF Champions League finalists Füchse Berlin and wildcard holders Veszprém HC complete a powerful European contingent.
The 2026 edition introduces a new competition system. Four teams start in the Preliminary Qualification, with the two winners completing two four-team groups. The group winners advance directly to the final, runners-up play for bronze, third-placed teams battle for fifth place and fourth-placed teams for seventh. The Preliminary Qualification losers will contest ninth and tenth place.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
FC Barcelona 🇪🇸 – defending champions / EHF Champions League winners
Füchse Berlin 🇩🇪 – EHF Champions League finalists
Al Ahly 🇪🇬 – hosts
Burgan SC 🇰🇼 – Asian champions
EC Pinheiros 🇧🇷 – South and Central American champions
Montada Derb Sultan 🇲🇦 – African representative
Sydney Uni HC 🇦🇺 – Oceania champions
Los Angeles Handball Club 🇺🇸 – North America and Caribbean representative
Veszprém HC 🇭🇺 – wildcard
Zamalek SC 🇪🇬 – wildcard
PRELIMINARY QUALIFICATION
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
16:30 Sydney Uni – Veszprém HC (PQ2)
19:00 Los Angeles HC – Zamalek SC (PQ1)
The winner of Los Angeles HC – Zamalek joins Group A, while the winner of Sydney Uni – Veszprém joins Group B.
GROUP A
FC Barcelona 🇪🇸
Montada Derb Sultan 🇲🇦
EC Pinheiros 🇧🇷
Winner Los Angeles HC – Zamalek SC
GROUP B
Füchse Berlin 🇩🇪
Al Ahly 🇪🇬
Burgan SC 🇰🇼
Winner Sydney Uni – Veszprém HC
FULL MATCH SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
10:00 Loser PQ1 – Loser PQ2
9th/10th place – first match
GROUP A
12:15 Montada Derb Sultan – Winner LA/Zamalek
14:30 EC Pinheiros – FC Barcelona
GROUP B
17:30 Al Ahly – Winner Sydney/Veszprém
19:45 Burgan SC – Füchse Berlin
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
10:00 Loser PQ2 – Loser PQ1
9th/10th place – second match
GROUP A
12:15 Montada Derb Sultan – EC Pinheiros
14:30 FC Barcelona – Winner LA/Zamalek
GROUP B
16:45 Füchse Berlin – Winner Sydney/Veszprém
19:00 Al Ahly – Burgan SC
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
GROUP A
12:15 Winner LA/Zamalek – EC Pinheiros
14:30 FC Barcelona – Montada Derb Sultan
GROUP B
16:45 Winner Sydney/Veszprém – Burgan SC
19:00 Füchse Berlin – Al Ahly
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1 – FINAL DAY
11:30 – 7TH PLACE MATCH
Group A 4th – Group B 4th
14:00 – 5TH PLACE MATCH
Group A 3rd – Group B 3rd
16:30 – BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
Group A 2nd – Group B 2nd
19:00 – FINAL
Group A winner – Group B winner
There are no semi-finals in the new format: the two group winners will advance directly to the final and battle for the 2026 world club title on October 1.
All times are CEST.
