The 2026 SCAHC Beach handball championship crowned the most capable teams in South and Central America. Argentina and Brazil clinched the top spots with Argentina winning the women’s title and Brazil securing number one in the men’s tournament.
Brazil succesfully defended their gold from 2025, despite losing the group stage game to the toughest competitor. With clear semifinal margin, 2–0 (28–16, 22–16) for Brazil over Uruguay and 2–0 (22–10, 22–10) for Argentina over Chile the stage was set for a rematch.
Brazil ended up having the prime shape for the final and Renan Pinheiro dominated the beach scene in Rosario, Argentina with a total of 15 points in the gold medal match, 17–14 and 17–12 in straight sets.
– Winning this championship again shows the consistency and strength of our team over the years; it feels very special, Bruno Carlos de Oliveira of Brazil told IHF after the men’s prize ceremony.
The women’s tournament was a similar story, Argentina lost to Brazil early on but could go for revenge after a shoot-out won semifinal, 2–1 versus Urugay. Brazil brought four wins to the final and took charge against Paraguay in the first knock-out-game.
Argentina had control in the first set of the final but had to bounce back in a second set with twists and turns to lift the trophy on home ground.
– We played differently against Brazil in the final than in the group stage with different systems in both attack and defence, but the tournament was really tough with all the teams here stronger than last time in 2024, the coach Leticia Brunati said to IHF.
The top two nations qualified for the World Championship later this season, meaning Argentina and Brazil will be seen in double versions in Zagreb in June.
Source: ARGENTINA WOMEN AND BRAZIL MEN WIN 2026 SCAHC BEACH HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS