Germany and France unite in bid to host IHF Men’s World Championships in 2029 and 2031

The handball federations of Germany (DHB) and France (FFH) have started a collaborative effort to secure the hosting rights for the 2029 and 2031 International Handball Federation (IHF) Men’s World Championships. The joint bid marks a significant move in the competition to host these prestigious events.

Competing against this alliance are solo bids from Hungary and Saudi Arabia, as well as another joint bid from Denmark, Iceland and Norway, all vying for the opportunity to host the two major handball tournaments.

The IHF initiated the bidding process for both championships in April 2023, with the final decision on the host set to be revealed on April 16, 2024.

“Very recently, the men’s EHF EURO 2024, which took place in Germany, exceeded the million spectator mark in theatres – and France became, for the fourth time, European handball champion!” FFH President Philippe Bana and DHB President Andreas Michelmann remarked in a joint statement.

“Both on a sporting and organisational level, we have proven that we are capable of offering remarkable and professional infrastructures, while creating a unique atmosphere thanks to the many enthusiastic handball fans!”

Germany has a rich history of staging major handball events, having co-hosted the IHF World Championships in 2019 alongside Denmark, and previously in 2007. The nation is also set to host the 2027 edition of the tournament. Before reunification, both West Germany and East Germany had each hosted the event twice, while the inaugural World Championship took place in Nazi Germany in 1938.

Meanwhile, France boasts an impressive track record in the IHF World Championships, having claimed victory six times in the tournament’s history. The country has also hosted the event on three occasions, most recently in 2017.

Joint bids have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, offering more national handball federations the opportunity to showcase their capabilities in hosting these global tournaments. Examples include the record-breaking 2019 event, which saw unprecedented attendance figures, as well as the 2023 championships jointly held by Poland and Sweden.

The 2025 edition is scheduled to be jointly hosted by Croatia, Denmark and Norway, underscoring the growing trend of collaborative efforts in hosting the IHF Men’s World Championships.