IHF Men's Handball World Championship

And following the thrilling and atmospheric matches of the 2019 World Championship and the 2024 European Championship, the Olympic Park is once again set to host two preliminary round groups. Fans have particular cause for celebration, as the German team will play all three of its preliminary round matches at the SAP Garden – including the World Championship opening match on 13 January! Alongside Germany (Group A), Croatia will compete in Group C in Munich. Croatia already drew a full house in the Bavarian capital during the 2019 World Championship.

As with the two previous tournaments, Olympia Park Munich GmbH, together with the German Handball Federation (DHB), is responsible for organising the 2027 World Championship in Munich. The atmosphere at the often sold-out matches during the last two tournaments at the Olympic Hall was truly overwhelming. Whether at the 2019 World Championship with major teams such as Croatia and Spain, or at the 2024 European Championship with Iceland and Denmark.

Demand for tickets for the 2027 Handball World Championship is high. At present, no tickets are available – with the exception of hospitality packages – for the German team’s group stage matches at the SAP Garden in Munich, or for the main round and the quarter-finals (provided Germany qualifies) in Cologne. Over 180,000 tickets have been sold so far. There is also considerable interest outside the German group. Therefore, anyone wishing to experience the 2027 World Championship live should not wait too long. Demand is set to rise significantly once again, at the latest following the draw on 10 June at Munich’s Hofbräuhaus.

The key dates for the group stage fixtures have already been announced: on Wednesday 13 January 2027, the German national team will play the World Cup opening match at the SAP Garden; further group stage matches involving Germany are scheduled for Friday 15 January and Sunday 17 January. The second group in the preliminary round in Munich, led by Croatia, will play its matches on 14 January, 16 January and 18 January. In parallel with Munich, the group stage matches for the two groups will also take place in Stuttgart from 13 to 18 January. Staggered by one day – from 14 to 19 January – the six group stage match days for two groups are scheduled in Kiel and Magdeburg. The top three teams from each of the eight group stage groups will advance to the main round.

Provided everything goes to plan for the DHB squad, the team could write the first chapter of a successful tournament – and thus another winter fairy tale – in Munich from 13 to 18 January 2027.