The 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship is set to take place between November 29 and December 17 and will be the 26th iteration of the tournament. The International Handball Federation (IHF) has organized the event since 1957, but this will be just the third time the tournament has been hosted across multiple countries.
Denmark, Norway and for the first time ever, Sweden, will share hosting duties in late 2023, with group-stage matches being held across all three Scandinavian countries. Denmark last hosted back in 2015, while Norway’s last home tournament came as a joint host with the Danes in 1999. This year, the final will take place in Herning, Denmark and a total of 32 national teams will be fighting it out to make it there.
Official Partnership with Betsson
Betsson has partnered with the IHF Women’s World Championship 2023 as the official sponsor of the upcoming tournament, continuing our strong commitment to women’s sports.
Robin Olenius, PR Manager for Betsson Group, said: “This sponsorship aligns with our commitment to promoting and supporting women’s sports. We hope that through our support of the tournament and our global presence, we will help to increase the excitement globally.”
Dr. Hassan Moustafa, President of IHF, commented: “We are happy to welcome Betsson to the 26th IHF Women’s World Championship. Together, we set a clear aim – to excite!”
Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, added: “We are thrilled to introduce Betsson as a new valued partner for the Women’s Handball World Championship this November. With their wealth of experience in supporting women’s sports globally, we are confident that this collaboration will further elevate the excitement and bring the tournament to new heights.”
This exciting collaboration represents Betsson’s handball debut, although we have been a leading betting company since 1963 – just a handful of years after the IHF created the Women’s World Championships. We will offer a wide range of odds on all IHF Women’s World Championship matches, plus we have outright odds available for the overall winner and for teams to make the final in Denmark on the Betsson website.
What Are The Rules of Handball?
For any newcomers to the sport, you are in for a real treat! Handball is a fast-paced game played across two 30-minute halves with a 10–15-minute break in between. Teams are literally not allowed to keep possession of the ball without trying to attack, so you are guaranteed an exciting, end-to-end match. Each player is allowed to hold the ball for a maximum of three seconds and take a maximum of three steps each time they take possession. However, if they bounce the ball, they are allowed to continuously dribble with it. A goal is worth one point on the scoreboard and is awarded only if the entirety of the ball crosses the line. A player can score with any type of throw they like. Handball is played on a court of around 20 metres in width and 40 metres in length, with three-metre-wide goals. There are seven players on each team, and all are interchangeable during the game, apart from the goalkeeper. The seven general positions are goalkeeper, left-wing, right-wing, left-back, right-back, centre-back, and the pivot.
Women’s Handball World Championship 2023 – The Teams
While just nine teams were involved in the very first Women’s Handball World Championship back in 1957 Yugoslavia, a total of 32 will arrive in Denmark, Norway and Sweden in late November to start their group stage adventures. There are a number of ways by which a national side can qualify to take part in the World Championships. Denmark, Norway and Sweden are granted automatic entries as this year’s hosts.
- France and Montenegro – Semi-finalists of the 2022 European Championships
- Angola, Congo, Cameroon, and Senegal – Semi-finalists of the 2022 African Championships
- Netherlands – Reached the top six of the 2022 European Championships
- Argentina and Brazil – Top two of the 2022 Central and South American Championships
- Iran, South Korea, Japan, China, and Kazakhstan – Top Five of the 2022 Asian Championships
- Chile and Paraguay – Top two of the 2023 Central American Championships
- Greenland – 2023 North America and Caribbean Championship winners
- Ukraine, Czech Republic, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, Poland, Spain, Romania – All qualified as European play-off winners
- Austria and Iceland – Wildcard entries
Women’s Handball 2023 – Group Stages
The draw for the group stages of the IHF tournament was made in Gothenburg, Sweden on 6 July 2023, with the 32 teams having been split into four pots. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Montenegro, France, Netherlands, Brazil and Germany made up the strongest teams in Pot 1.
Group A –
- Sweden
- Croatia
- China
- Senegal
Group B –
- Montenegro
- Hungary
- Cameroon
- Paraguay
Group C –
- Norway
- South Korea
- Greenland
- Austria
Group D –
- France
- Slovenia
- Angola
- Iceland
Group E –
- Denmark
- Romania
- Serbia
- Chile
Group F –
- Germany
- Poland
- Japan
- Iran
Group G –
- Brazil
- Spain
- Ukraine
- Kazakhstan
Group H –
- Netherlands
- Czech Republic
- Argentina
- Congo
Each team will play the other nations in their group once, with the top three teams progressing to the main round and the bottom-placed nation in each group entering into the Presidents Cup instead. The group tables will be decided by points, but in the event of a tie head-to-head points, head-to-head goal difference, head-to-head goals scored, and goal difference will be used.
Once the first stage of group matches are complete and the top three progress, a second group stage will commence. The top two in each of these second group tables will advance to the knockout quarter-finals.
Group One –
- A1
- B1
- A2
- B2
- A3
- B3
Group Two –
- C1
- D1
- C2
- D2
- C3
- D3
Group Three –
- E1
- F1
- E2
- F2
- E3
- F3
Group Four –
- G1
- H1
- G2
- H2
- G3
- H3
The President’s Cup will also take place during the same time, as the bottom-placed team from each group A through H fight it out. Group 1 will consist of A4, B4, C4, and D4. Group 2 of the President’s Cup will include E4, F4, G4 and H4. The two winners of these President’s Cup groups will go on to fight it out in the 25th-place game.
The quarter-finals of the Main Round will take place on December 12 and 13, followed by the semi-finals on December 15 and the final on December 17. The third-place play-off will also take place on December 17.
The Venues –
The 2023 Women’s World Championship will take place across three countries and six different towns and cities, finishing with the final in Herning, Denmark. The 15,000-capacity Jyske Bank Boxen will host that final on December 17. Other venues include the Arena Nord in Frederikshavn, Denmark (2,800 capacity), the Helsingborg Arena in Helsingborg, Sweden (5,500 capacity), and the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden (12,000 capacity).
Who are the favourites to win the Women’s Handball World Championships?
It comes as no surprise that the reigning champions are firm favourites to win the World Championships in 2023, especially considering they are also one of the host countries. They defeated France 29-22 in a pulsating final in Spain two years ago and will be looking to win back-to-back titles for the first time in their history. A Championships win would also take them out on their own in the all-time table, as they currently sit on four goal medals, the same number as Russia.
As we just mentioned, France also come into the tournament off the back of an appearance in the final last time out and will be hoping to go one better in 2023. The French qualified for the World Championships with a semi-final appearance at the 2022 European Championships and so go into the upcoming tournament in good form.
Denmark are also seen as dark horses to watch for the gold medal this year. Denmark will have the home crowd advantage, especially if they make it all the way to the final in Herning. They haven’t won the women’s championships since 1997 but have two silver medals and three bronzes to their name since the tournament’s conception. Most recently, they came third in the 2021 championships, beating hosts Spain 35-28 in a play-off.
The Netherlands qualified for the 2023 championships thanks to a top-six finish at the 2022 European Championships and are also seen as an outsider to watch at this tournament. They won the gold medal as recently as 2019 in Japan, beating Spain 30-29 in a nail-biting final. They also finished third in 2017.
Finally, it would be rude not to mention our third hosts for the tournament in Sweden. We all know what a boost a home crowd can give to a team when it comes to live sport. Sweden are definitely seen as outsiders for the gold medal, but don’t be surprised to see them amongst it when we get deep into the knockouts. Their best finish in recent years came in 2017 when they were defeated 24-21 by Netherlands in a third-place play-off. They are yet to win a medal at the tournament but stand a great chance this year.
Key dates for the Women’s Handball Championships –
There are a number of key dates to add to your diary for the IHF 2023 Women’s World Championships:
- November 29 – The 2023 Women’s World Championships starts
- December 5 – The final match of the first group stage is played
- December 6 – The main round commences
- December 6 – The President’s Cup starts
- December 12 – The quarter-finals begin
- December 15 – Both semi-finals are played
- December 17 – The IHF Women’s World Championship Final
- December 17 – Third-place play-off
IHF Women’s 2023 Odds and Predictions
The current Betsson outright odds for the IHF Women’s World Championships have the reigning champions down as the bookie’s favourites at 2.10. France are considered to be their main rivals at 4.30, with the likes of Denmark, Netherlands, and Sweden in the chasing pack at 6.00, 7.00, and 10.00 respectively. Hungary come in at 21.00, followed by Germany at 26.00, Spain at 31.00, and Romania at 34. At the bottom of the pile, Greenland are considered to be the biggest outsiders to lift the trophy at a whopping 3001, with Paraguay at 2001. Cameroon, Iran, China, and Chile are all listed at 501.00.
Winner
Norway 2.10
France 4.30
Denmark 6.00
Netherlands 7.00
Sweden 11.00
Hungary 21.00
Germany 26.00
Spain 31.00
Romania 34.00
Cameroon 501.00
Iran 501.00
China 501.00
Chile 501.00
Paraguay 2001.00
Greenland 3001.00
We are also offering a market for teams to reach the final:
Norway 1.15
France 2.15
Denmark 3.00
Netherlands 3.50
Sweden 5.50
Hungary 10.50
Germany 13.00
Spain 17.00
Romania 17.00
Brazil 25.00
Women’s Handball World Championship News –
Iceland will be making their fourth appearance at a major international tournament this winter, entering just their second IHF Women’s World Championship. They qualified once before all the way back in 2011, meaning it has been a 12-year battle for the Icelandic side to fight their way back onto the main stage. They were handed one of the two Wildcards by the International Handball Federation in July thanks to some impressive recent form.
Greenland also enter the IHF World Championships as somewhat of a Cinderella story. For the first time in their history, they won a continental championship title in 2023, lifting the Nor.Ca Women’s Handball Championship, which also secured qualification for the World Championships. They even went on a six-game winning streak during the competition.
The 26th IHF Women’s World Championships has an official song by Swedish DJ and producer, Wahlstedt. The single is called ‘Aiming For Number One’ so be sure to check that out to get yourself in the mood for the upcoming tournament in Scandinavia.
PS: The odds might have changed since the publication of this article.