IHF MEN'S HANDBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

From January 20 to 31, 2027, the LANXESS arena will become the center of the handball world. Twenty years after Germany’s “Winter Fairy Tale” of 2007, the world’s best national teams will once again compete in Cologne for a spot in the decisive rounds and ultimately for the World Championship title. In addition to two full groups from the main round, all quarterfinal and semifinal matches, as well as the placement and medal matches, will be held in Germany’s largest multifunctional arena. The grand final will take place on Sunday, January 31, 2027. Tickets are still available at handball2027.com.

The main round will kick off the tournament in Cologne. From January 20 to 25, 2027, three matches will be played each day for six consecutive days at the LANXESS arena. In the two main round groups in Cologne, the top three teams from preliminary round groups A and B, and groups C and D, respectively, will face off. This means that the German national team’s potential tournament path also leads to Cologne: If the team, coached by Alfred Gislason, finishes in one of the top three spots in its preliminary round group, it will continue the home World Championship at the LANXESS arena.

Once the main round concludes, the decisive knockout phase begins. On Tuesday, January 26, 2027, and Wednesday, January 27, 2027, two quarterfinal matches will be played in Cologne on each day. The four winning teams will advance to the semifinals, which are scheduled for Friday, January 29, 2027. On the same day, the first placement matches for fifth through eighth place will also be played.

The sporting highlight will take place on Sunday, January 31, 2027. First, the remaining placement matches will be played, followed by the third-place match, where the day’s first medal will be awarded. The event will conclude with the World Championship final, in which the new handball world champion will be crowned. Thus, the most important title in international men’s handball will be decided at the LANXESS arena in Cologne.

The LANXESS arena will thus serve as the stage for world-class handball throughout the entire second half of the tournament. From the first main round matches featuring Germany and other top nations such as France and Spain all the way to the gold medal match, fans in Cologne will experience the most important games of the 2027 Handball World Championship.