The best team of all time. The German handball players want to get gold. The halls become full. To what we can look forward to at the 2027 World Cup in Germany.
After the World Cup is before the World Cup – and the next will take place in Germany in 2027. Sure, until then there is still an European Championship in Denmark, Norway and Sweden in 2026. But the home World Cup still throws its shadows ahead. Fairy tales from 2025 are to be continued, the DHB team wants to increase, and organization will also work differently than this year. The handball world is already looking forward to: “Full arenas, great fans, I can hardly wait to play there,” said Dika Mem on Sunday to the sports show.
The best team of all time?
They have been the hunted for ten years: The Danish handball players celebrated their fourth World Cup title on Sunday and have been unbeaten for incredible 37 World Cup games. The last defeat was in the round of 16 against Hungary in 2017. “This is not just the best Danish team, that is the best national team ever,” said Rasmus Liege after the World Cup success. “We are difficult to beat,” grinned Mathias Gidel.
Denmark celebrates the fourth World Cup title in a row
The Danish stars are still in the best handball age. With Gidsel (25 years), Simon Pytlick (24) and Emil Nielsen (27), the three large cornerstones of the team will be even more experienced and ripped off in two years. And even better? Denmark’s handball will be a highlight again in 2027 – and every series has to tear at some point …
Gislason’s last tournament
The way in which Denmark marched through the tournament made the 30:40 bankruptcy of the Germans against the later world champion a little better. However, there was a lot missing until the top of the world, but in 2027 the DHB finally wants to arrive there. Progress is expected from national coach Alfred Gislason, for example at the European Championship 2026, so that he can cede with the home World Cup as planned.
Director and trainer: Juri Knorr and Alfred Gislason
For the then 67-year-old Icelander, it would be the end of his large life’s work if he could lead the German team to a gold medal with many young players. With Knorr (24 years), Uščins (22), Köster (23) and Späth (21), many top performers are still at the beginning of the career, also Lichtlein (22), Grgić (21) and Fischer (21) showed their talent . They will all need more experience in the Bundesliga and Champions League to perform on the World Cup stage.
The new face of the world leaders
A young, talented team that will have more experience – this also applies to Portugal. The southern Europeans missed the historically first medal against record world champion France, but delighted many handball fans worldwide during the tournament. The Costa brothers, which were outstanding until the final weekend, were noted in the crucial games against world-class teams such as Denmark and France, the wear and tear in the decisions.
The future of Portuguese handball: Francisco and Martim Costa
The duo now knows how a body reacts to nine games within 20 days and what to expect to an athlete. With the experienced trainer Paulo Pereira at your side, the team will have enough time by 2027 to develop in many ways. The still young Diogo Marques (20) in the Portuguese goal has left a promising impression and could eliminate the small weak point in the team up to the next World Cup. “I believe that I can win a medal with Portugal,” said Francisco Costa after the game for third place. “We can get that far at any tournament.”
Another fairy tale?
During the 2025 World Cup, a personnel decision has caused a good attention to the handball world, especially in Germany. The former Vice President of the German Handball Association Bob Hanning takes over the Italian national team. “The World Cup has shown the potential in the team,” said Hanning. That’s right: Italy surprised positively with three wins and the move into the main round.
Good things: Bob Hanning at his performance in Oslo
The 56-year-old is said to have signed a 4-year contract that Italians think in the cycle of the Olympics until the 2028th Olympic tournament. Hanning, who also remains managing director of the German runner-up Füchse Berlin, could be at the 2027 Handball World Cup in Germany Sitting on the coaching bench – provided Italy qualifies for the tournament. An unusual picture, one of the faces of German handball suddenly to see in colors of the Azzurri.
Full halls and a good mood
Grandiose mood during the European Championships in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne
A thesis that is already certain: The next World Cup will not be criticized again by a lack of viewer interest. The arenas in Munich, Stuttgart, Kiel, Magdeburg, Hanover and Cologne (end game location) will be full – as with the European Championship last year. “It was the best tournament I’ve ever been to,” said Luka Karabatic on Sunday. “No matter which team played, the arena was full. The 2027 World Cup in Germany is the perfect setup for me!”