# 2024 European Men's Handball Championship

The 2024 [European Men's Handball Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/european-mens-handball-championship) (Men's EHF EURO 2024) was the continental championship for men's national handball teams, staged in Germany from 10 to 28 January 2024 and won by France, which beat Denmark 33:31 after overtime in the final in Cologne on 28 January.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup> It was the first time the men's EHF European Championship was held in Germany.<sup>[2](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/handball-mens-ehf-euro-2024-preview-full-schedule-how-to-watch)</sup> The event also served as a qualification tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.<sup>[3](https://www.ihf.info/continent-federations/european-handball-federation/110/events/125689)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Host and dates | Germany, 10–28 January 2024, in six cities: Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Mannheim and Munich<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup> |
| Champion | France, fourth title after 2006, 2010 and 2014, beating Denmark 33:31 after overtime<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup> |
| Field | 24 teams; draw held in Düsseldorf on 10 May 2023<sup>[3](https://www.ihf.info/continent-federations/european-handball-federation/110/events/125689)</sup> |
| Attendance | 1,008,660 spectators across 65 matches; opening day world record of 53,586 in Düsseldorf<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup> |
| Broadcast reach | Live audience of over 45 million in key markets during the main round (Nielsen data)<sup>[4](https://ehfeuro.eurohandball.com/men/2024/news/en/45-million-tune-in-as-men-s-ehf-euro-2024-draws-over-one-million-fans/)</sup> |
| Individual awards | MVP Nedim Remili (France); top scorers Martim Costa and Mathias Gidsel, 54 goals each<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup> |
| Olympic qualification | Sweden took the single Paris 2024 quota spot on offer; France (hosts) and Denmark (world champions) were already qualified<sup>[5](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mens-ehf-euro-2024-all-results-group-standings-complete-list)</sup> |

## Host selection and venues

Germany hosted the men's EHF EURO for the first time in tournament history.<sup>[2](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/handball-mens-ehf-euro-2024-preview-full-schedule-how-to-watch)</sup> The preliminary round was played in Berlin (Mercedes-Benz Arena), Mannheim (SAP Arena) and Munich (Olympiahalle), each city hosting two of the six preliminary groups.<sup>[6](https://ehfeuro.eurohandball.com/men/2024/news/en/men-s-ehf-euro-2024-match-schedule-released/)</sup> The main round moved to the Barclays Arena in Hamburg and the LANXESS Arena in Cologne, with the LANXESS Arena also staging the final weekend.<sup>[6](https://ehfeuro.eurohandball.com/men/2024/news/en/men-s-ehf-euro-2024-match-schedule-released/)</sup>

The tournament opened in [Düsseldorf](https://www.edgepedia.org/dusseldorf), where 53,586 spectators at Merkur Spiel-Arena set a new world record for handball attendance.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup>

## Qualification and format

Twenty-four teams took part, the third consecutive edition at that size after 2020 and 2022.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup> The draw, held in Düsseldorf on 10 May 2023, produced six preliminary groups of four:<sup>[3](https://www.ihf.info/continent-federations/european-handball-federation/110/events/125689)</sup>

- **Group A**: France, Germany, North Macedonia, Switzerland
- **Group B**: Spain, Austria, Croatia, Romania
- **Group C**: Iceland, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro
- **Group D**: Norway, Slovenia, Poland, Faroe Islands
- **Group E**: Sweden, Netherlands, Bosnia & [Herzegovina](https://www.edgepedia.org/herzegovina), Georgia
- **Group F**: Denmark, Portugal, Czech Republic, [Greece](https://www.edgepedia.org/greece)<sup>[6](https://ehfeuro.eurohandball.com/men/2024/news/en/men-s-ehf-euro-2024-match-schedule-released/)</sup>

**Format.** The top two teams of each preliminary group advanced to a main round of two groups of six, with points from preliminary-round matches against other advancing teams carried forward.<sup>[2](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/handball-mens-ehf-euro-2024-preview-full-schedule-how-to-watch)</sup> The top two in each main-round group reached the semi-finals in Cologne.<sup>[2](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/handball-mens-ehf-euro-2024-preview-full-schedule-how-to-watch)</sup> A finalist therefore contested matches from the preliminary round through the main round to the semi-finals and final.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup>

## Group and main round

The preliminary round produced one major casualty: Spain, which had appeared in the final weekend at six consecutive EUROs and won the titles in 2018 and 2020, was eliminated in the preliminary round.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup> Olympics.com called Spain the disappointments of the tournament, noting the exit came after six consecutive European Championship podium appearances.<sup>[5](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mens-ehf-euro-2024-all-results-group-standings-complete-list)</sup> Three nations made their EHF EURO debuts: [Faroe Islands](https://www.edgepedia.org/faroe-islands), Georgia and Greece.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup>

In the main round, France won Group I in Cologne with 10 points from five wins, scoring 174 and conceding 154 goals; Denmark won Group II in Hamburg with 8 points, scoring 158 and conceding 132.<sup>[5](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mens-ehf-euro-2024-all-results-group-standings-complete-list)</sup>

## Knockout stage and final

The semi-finals sent France past Sweden 34:30 in overtime and Denmark past Germany 29:26, both in Cologne.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup> Sweden took the bronze medal by beating the host nation 34:31.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup>

**The final.** France and Denmark, the sport's two dominant teams of the era, met in Cologne on 28 January. Denmark's goalkeeper [Emil Nielsen](https://www.edgepedia.org/emil-nielsen) made 15 saves, including eight at 57.1 per cent in the first 20 minutes, and was named Player of the Match, but France prevailed 33:31 after extra time.<sup>[7](https://www.eurohandball.com/en/news/en/france-reclaim-ehf-euro-title-after-70-minute-battle/)</sup> [Dika Mem](https://www.edgepedia.org/dika-mem) scored two goals in overtime and Samir Bellahcene made a decisive save to secure the win.<sup>[7](https://www.eurohandball.com/en/news/en/france-reclaim-ehf-euro-title-after-70-minute-battle/)</sup> Mikkel Hansen scored nine goals in the final and in doing so became the all-time top scorer in Men's EHF EURO history, passing both Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson and Nikola Karabatic.<sup>[7](https://www.eurohandball.com/en/news/en/france-reclaim-ehf-euro-title-after-70-minute-battle/)</sup> By efficiency the Danish attack was the better side on the night, scoring at 63 per cent against France's 57 per cent, with [Mathias Gidsel](https://www.edgepedia.org/mathias-gidsel) converting all eight of his shots; France nonetheless took the title.<sup>[8](https://ehfcl.eurohandball.com/men/2023-24/news/en/the-magic-in-the-numbers-kinexon-insights-for-men-s-ehf-euro-2024/)</sup>

## By the numbers

**Scoring and awards.** France scored 306 goals across the tournament, the highest total, while Denmark recorded the best shooting efficiency at 68.5 per cent on 281 goals.<sup>[8](https://ehfcl.eurohandball.com/men/2023-24/news/en/the-magic-in-the-numbers-kinexon-insights-for-men-s-ehf-euro-2024/)</sup> Portugal's Martim Costa and Denmark's Mathias Gidsel shared the top scorer crown with 54 goals apiece, Gidsel reaching the mark with his eight-goal final.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://www.eurohandball.com/en/news/en/france-reclaim-ehf-euro-title-after-70-minute-battle/)</sup> France's Nedim Remili was named MVP, and teammate Nikola Karabatic secured a record 11th national team title.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup>

The All-star Team was: Andreas Wolff (goalkeeper), Mathias Gidsel (right back), Martim Costa (left back), Juri Knorr (center back), Robert Weber (right wing), Hampus Wanne (left wing), [Ludovic Fabregas](https://www.edgepedia.org/ludovic-fabregas) (line player) and Magnus Saugstrup (best defender).<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup> KINEXON tracking data recorded the biggest running distance by a player as 35.5 km across nine matches.<sup>[8](https://ehfcl.eurohandball.com/men/2023-24/news/en/the-magic-in-the-numbers-kinexon-insights-for-men-s-ehf-euro-2024/)</sup>

**Crowds and audiences.** The 65 matches drew 1,008,660 spectators, with the final weekend sold out and the preliminary round at 98 per cent capacity.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://ehfeuro.eurohandball.com/men/2024/news/en/45-million-tune-in-as-men-s-ehf-euro-2024-draws-over-one-million-fans/)</sup> Nielsen data covering Croatia, Denmark, Germany, France, Hungary, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden put the main round's live audience at over 45 million.<sup>[4](https://ehfeuro.eurohandball.com/men/2024/news/en/45-million-tune-in-as-men-s-ehf-euro-2024-draws-over-one-million-fans/)</sup> Germany's semi-final loss to Denmark drew almost 9.7 million viewers, and the main-round match against Hungary reached 8.4 million; in Denmark, the match against Norway reached 1.47 million viewers on TV2, almost 75 per cent market share.<sup>[4](https://ehfeuro.eurohandball.com/men/2024/news/en/45-million-tune-in-as-men-s-ehf-euro-2024-draws-over-one-million-fans/)</sup>

## What has changed since 2023

The championship carried direct consequences for later events. Sweden took the one Paris 2024 Olympic quota spot available to the highest-ranked national Olympic committee not already qualified, since France (as hosts) and Denmark (as 2023 world champions) already held berths.<sup>[5](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mens-ehf-euro-2024-all-results-group-standings-complete-list)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/handball-mens-ehf-euro-2024-preview-full-schedule-how-to-watch)</sup> France, Sweden and Germany qualified for the 29th IHF Men's World Championship through their results.<sup>[3](https://www.ihf.info/continent-federations/european-handball-federation/110/events/125689)</sup>

The final rankings were: 1. France, 2. Denmark, 3. Sweden, 4. Germany, 5. Hungary, 6. Slovenia, 7. Portugal, 8. Austria.<sup>[3](https://www.ihf.info/continent-federations/european-handball-federation/110/events/125689)</sup> Hungary beat Slovenia 23:22 in the 5/6 placement match, and Portugal and Austria climbed from 19th and 20th at the previous EURO to seventh and eighth.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup>

A peer-reviewed comparison of the 2020, 2022 and 2024 championships found a statistically significant association between championship year and the type of offensive action teams used, though the effect size was small (Cramer's V = 0).<sup>[9](https://www.sportspa.ftos.untz.ba/index.php/sportspa/article/download/347/279/347)</sup>

## Reception and legacy

The event set records on both sides of the arena door: a world-record 53,586 spectators at the opening in Düsseldorf, more than one million in total, and a 45-million live television audience in the main round.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://ehfeuro.eurohandball.com/men/2024/news/en/45-million-tune-in-as-men-s-ehf-euro-2024-draws-over-one-million-fans/)</sup> The host nation reached the semi-finals and finished fourth, losing the bronze match to Sweden 34:31.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup> Beyond the podium, the tournament marked a step upward for Portugal and Austria, who rose from 19th and 20th at the previous edition to seventh and eighth, and introduced Faroe Islands, Georgia and Greece to the championship.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup> France's fourth title, and Karabatic's record 11th national team crown, closed the tournament.<sup>[1](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)</sup>

## References

1. [European Handball 2024, EHF official tournament review](https://www.eurohandball.com/media/jpzdk5ix/european-handball-2024.pdf)
2. [Handball, Men's EHF Euro 2024 preview: Teams, full schedule and how to watch, Olympics.com](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/handball-mens-ehf-euro-2024-preview-full-schedule-how-to-watch)
3. [IHF Events – Men's EHF EURO 2024](https://www.ihf.info/continent-federations/european-handball-federation/110/events/125689)
4. [45 million tune in as Men's EHF EURO 2024 draws over one million fans, EHF EURO](https://ehfeuro.eurohandball.com/men/2024/news/en/45-million-tune-in-as-men-s-ehf-euro-2024-draws-over-one-million-fans/)
5. [Handball, Men's EHF Euro 2024: All results, scores and group standings, Olympics.com](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mens-ehf-euro-2024-all-results-group-standings-complete-list)
6. [Men's EHF EURO 2024 match schedule released, EHF EURO](https://ehfeuro.eurohandball.com/men/2024/news/en/men-s-ehf-euro-2024-match-schedule-released/)
7. [France reclaim EHF EURO title after 70-minute battle, EHF](https://www.eurohandball.com/en/news/en/france-reclaim-ehf-euro-title-after-70-minute-battle/)
8. [The magic in the numbers: KINEXON insights for Men's EHF EURO 2024, EHF](https://ehfcl.eurohandball.com/men/2023-24/news/en/the-magic-in-the-numbers-kinexon-insights-for-men-s-ehf-euro-2024/)
9. [Analysis of Offensive and Fast-Break Performance Across the 2020, 2022 and 2024 Men's European Handball Championships, Sport SPA](https://www.sportspa.ftos.untz.ba/index.php/sportspa/article/download/347/279/347)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Handball*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*

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