GROUP G:

In the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart , teams from three different confederations come together as the 2025 IHF Women’s World Handball Championship kicks off in Germany and the Netherlands. In this group , three of the four teams are considered favourites to advance to the M ain R ound . South and Central American champions Brazil  (SCAHC) and North American and Caribbean champions   Cuba  (NACHC) face two strong European sides: Sweden   and Czechia . For Cuba, the tournament marks a special moment, as they return to the world stage after a six-year absence. In their previous four World Championship appearances , they never reached the Main Round.

Sweden: experienced generation chasing one last chance  

For fifteen years, Sweden has been one of the most consistent teams at the World Championship. In the seven editions they have played, they have always finished inside the top ten. They placed fourth in 2017 and 2023, seventh in 2019, and fifth in 2021. This year, they arrive with the most experienced squad they have ever brought to a World Championship. For key players such as  Jamina Roberts, Linn Blohm, and Nathalie Hagman, this could be their final opportunity to win a World Championship medal as the end of their international careers approaches.

Sweden has won all three of its official matches against Brazil. Their most recent World Championship meeting came in 2009, when Sweden claimed a 26–23 victory. The other two wins were recorded at the Olympic Games, in 2008 and 2020. Sweden also holds a strong record against Czechia, with five wins, including two at World Championships. The most recent clashes, two friendlies in 2022, further confirmed Sweden’s advantage in this matchup.

Czechia and Brazil: battle for second place  

With Sweden as the clear favourite, the fight for second place appears to be between Czechia and Brazil. Czechia has fond memories of playing a World Championship in Germany, finishing a remarkable 8th in 2017. This year, however, they must cope with the absence of star player Markéta Jeřábková, the top goal scorer of the previous World Championship, who is unavailable due to pregnancy.

Cuba: back after a long absence

Cuba plays its first World Championship since 2015 and faces a demanding task. In nine official meetings with Brazil, they have lost every time, including their only World Championship encounter in 2011. They have also consistently struggled against European teams. Their previous match against Sweden, at the 2015 World Championship, ended in a heavy defeat with a 24-goal margin. They have never faced Czechia.

Even so, Cuba has travelled to Europe with confidence. As champions of North America and the Caribbean, after a 32–21 win over Mexico, they are eager to show how much they have grown. But to reach the Main Round, they will have to exceed expectations against experienced and well-organised opponents.

Looking ahead to an exciting group  

In Stuttgart, Sweden once again appears to be the team to beat, but the battle behind them promises to be highly intriguing. Czechia aims to prove that it can still compete at a high level without topscorer Jeřábková, while Brazil hopes for a strong start powered by a blend of talent and experience. Cuba, returning to the world stage, hopes to surprise, but knows it will take several top-level performances to make history.

The Porsche Arena is set for a series of matches where tradition, ambition, and resurgence collide, a group full of storylines and excitement.