Four strong faces for the 2027 Men’s World Championship on home soil

The 2027 IHF Men’s Handball World Championship in Germany is gaining prominent support: During Germany’s international match against Denmark in Cologne on Sunday, Dominik Klein, Stefan Kretzschmar, Anja Althaus and Pascal Hens will officially be introduced as ambassadors for the tournament. The four former German internationals will represent the tournament as ambassadors. The 2027 IHF Men’s Handball World Championship will take place in Germany from 13 to 31 January under the claim “Where handball is alive”.

Dominik Klein and Pascal Hens are both part of Germany’s 2007 world champion team – the squad that created the iconic “winter fairy tale” on home soil in front of passionate German crowds.

“To be an ambassador for the sport I fell in love with as a child and to continue giving something back after my playing career is something I truly enjoy,” says Dominik Klein, who made 187 appearances for the German national team.

“We are a handball-crazy nation. A major tournament is always special, but when you experience it in your own country, the media attention and the atmosphere are unique. It is a great honour for me to represent my sport publicly. I played for Germany for many years, and I see this role as a great appreciation of my career and my connection to handball,” says Pascal Hens, who whore the German jersey 199 times.

Stefan Kretzschmar will also support the 2027 Men’s World Championship as an ambassador. With 218 international appearances, the long-time German international remains one of the most influential personalities in German handball.

“All my life I have seen myself as an ambassador for handball. Taking on this role for the World Championship makes me proud. It is a great honour to represent our sport, to bring it further into society and strengthen its presence there. Being an ambassador allows me to actively be part of the tournament – and I’m really looking forward to that,” says Stefan Kretzschmar.

The ambassador team is completed by Anja Althaus. The former German national team player and current team manager of the German women’s national team was recently one of the faces of the Women’s World Championship 2025 on home soil, where Germany won the silver medal.

“For me, handball is much more than just a sport. Handball is my world, my passion, my life. I love the entire handball community and want to help inspire even more people for this unique sport and give it the attention it deserves. As an ambassador, my goal is to share my passion for handball with as many people as possible. A World Championship on home soil means pure emotions. The diversity of the fans, the different mentalities and the shared passion for handball create an atmosphere you can only truly experience live,” says Anja Althaus, who played 243 matches for Germany.

“With Dominik Klein, Stefan Kretzschmar, Anja Althaus and Pascal Hens, we have brought together four personalities who have shaped German handball for many years and who represent different generations and perspectives of our sport. They know the special energy of tournaments on home soil and can authentically transport that enthusiasm – which makes them strong ambassadors for the 2027 World Championship,” says Thomas Zimmermann, Board Member for Marketing and Communications at the German Handball Federation (DHB).

The ambassador team reflects different facets of German handball – from the success stories of past home tournaments to the enthusiasm the sport is currently generating across the country. Many of the World Championship host cities are home to traditional Bundesliga clubs and perfectly reflect the tournament motto: “Where handball is alive”.

The 30th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship will take place in Germany from 13 to 31 January 2027. The preliminary round will be hosted in Munich, Stuttgart, Kiel and Magdeburg. The main round will take place in Hanover and Cologne, which will also host the final weekend of the competition. Germany will begin the tournament in Munich and, if qualified, move on to Cologne for the main round. Due to the high demand, tickets for Germany’s preliminary round matches in Munich and the main round in Cologne are currently unavailable. Several matchdays at other venues featuring international teams are also temporarily sold out, although hospitality packages may still be available.

The preliminary round draw will take place in Munich on 10 June 2026. Tickets and further information are available at: www.handball2027.com

Fotocredit: DHB / Jolina Born