Chile to face Croatia, Spain, and Turkey in 2027 Handball World Cup

Chile's men's handball team has learned its opponents for the preliminary round of the 2027 World Championship in Germany. The draw, held in Munich, placed the South American squad in Group C alongside formidable European teams: Croatia, the current world vice-champion; Spain, a bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics; and Turkey, making its debut appearance via an invitation from the International Handball Federation.

The Chilean team, now coached by Spaniard Aitor Etxaburu, will play its initial matches at the SAP Garden in Munich. This demanding group presents a significant challenge, with Chile needing to secure one of the top three positions to qualify for the second phase of the tournament.

Should Chile advance, they will move to Cologne to face qualifiers from Group D, which includes Argentina, France, Brazil, and Kuwait. The 2027 World Championship is scheduled to take place from January 13 to 31, with the knockout stages, including the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final, all set to be held in Cologne.