Skopje (MKD) August 3 – August 9, 2026
Source: https://www.eurohandball.com/en
The Men’s 18 EHF Championship I 2026 is one of the secondary-tier continental tournaments for youth players, held alongside the main EHF EURO. While the elite teams compete in the “EURO,” the “Championships” provide a platform for emerging handball nations to compete for promotion.
Based on the current EHF schedule, here is the program for the event:
Tournament Overview
- Dates: August 3 – August 9, 2026
- Location: Belgrade, Serbia
- Participants: Typically 8 teams divided into two groups (A and B).
Match Schedule Structure
The tournament follows a compact “week-long” format designed to determine final rankings quickly through a group stage and knockout placement matches.
1. Preliminary Round (August 3 – 6, 2026)
Teams play a round-robin format within their groups.
- Matchday 1: Monday, August 3
- Matchday 2: Tuesday, August 4
- Rest Day: Wednesday, August 5
- Matchday 3: Thursday, August 6
2. Semi-Finals & Cross Matches (Saturday, August 8, 2026)
After a rest day on Friday, the tournament enters the knockout phase:
- Semi-Finals: The top 2 teams from Group A and Group B face off (A1 vs B2, B1 vs A2).
- Cross Matches (5-8): The bottom 2 teams from each group play to determine placement brackets.
3. Finals & Placement (Sunday, August 9, 2026)
- Final: Winners of the Semi-Finals play for the gold medal and potential promotion.
- 3rd Place Match: Losers of the Semi-Finals.
- 5th/7th Place Matches: Final ranking games for the remaining teams.
Key Context
- Promotion: The winner of Championship I typically earns a spot in the elite M18 EHF EURO for the following cycle.
- Simultaneous Events: There is usually a “Championship II” held in a different host city (often Kosovo or Slovakia) during the same week to accommodate all European nations not in the top-tier EURO.
Note: Detailed group assignments (which specific countries are in Group A vs Group B) are usually finalized following the official draw, which typically takes place earlier in 2026.
