Group D:

The Trier Arena will host the IHF Women’s World Championship for the second time in history, as the competition returns to the city on the banks of the Mosel River after eight years. This time, Trier will stage Groups D and H. Group D features four teams: three European sides, Montenegro, Spain and the Faroe Islands , and one South American team, Paraguay , all fighting for the three available main round berths.

Montenegro and Spain are battle-tested teams that often progress deep into the World Championship, while the Faroe Islands will make their debut and Paraguay aim to advance beyond the preliminary round for the first time in their history.

Traditionally, these encounters have been extremely tight. The largest margin between the two was Montenegro’s 30:23 win in the group phase of the EHF EURO 2022. The head-to-head record is almost dead even, four wins for Montenegro, four for Spain, and one draw (26:26) at the EHF EURO 2020. In those nine meetings, Montenegro have scored 214 goals and Spain 212. Their third World Championship clash could tip the balance for the coming years.

At the World Championship, the sides have faced each other twice. In Brazil 2011, Spain claimed a 23:19 win in the Round of 16, ending Montenegro’s debut campaign. Eight years later, in Japan 2019, Spain once again prevailed, 27:26, in the preliminary round. The most recent official match between the two came at the EHF EURO 2022, when Montenegro celebrated a convincing 30:23 victory in Podgorica. This World Championship also marks the senior coaching debut of Montenegro’s head coach, Suzana Lazovic, who led China’s junior national team at the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship.

Montenegro vs Paraguay: The numbers

Montenegro hold a positive record against Paraguay, with a 30:25 win at the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Tournament and a 41:26 victory at the 2023 World Championship. They also defeated the Faroe Islands 32:26 on 18 October in the EHF EURO 2026 Qualifiers.

Spain in Transition

Both Spain and Montenegro have reshaped their squads in recent years. Montenegro secured bronze at the EHF EURO 2022 and reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Championship, but missed out on qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Spain participated in Paris but lost all five matches and failed to reach the main round at the EHF EURO 2024 under head coach Ambros Martin. One of the most experienced coaches in women’s handball, Martin faces a major rebuilding challenge, with an eye on the 2029 World Championship, which Spain will host.

Spain have won both of their previous World Championship meetings with Paraguay, 29:9 in Serbia 2013 and 32:15 in Germany 2017, and have yet to face the Faroe Islands in official competition.