The line-up for the Women’s EHF EURO 2026 is now complete following the conclusion of the qualifiers, with the final spots decided in a dramatic last round across Europe.
Austria and Serbia sealed crucial victories to secure second place in their respective groups and book their tickets to the championship. Meanwhile, the battle for the remaining places among the best third-ranked teams saw Iceland, after a win against Portugal, join Ukraine, North Macedonia and Greece, who all progressed despite defeats, to complete the final line-up.
The tournament, scheduled to take place from 3 to 20 December, will be hosted by Poland, Romania, Czechia, Slovakiaand Türkiye. They will be joined by the EHF EURO 2024 medallists – Denmark, Norway and Hungary – as well as France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Austria, Serbia, Iceland, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Greece.
Several teams impressed throughout the qualifiers. France, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and Spain all finished with perfect records. The Netherlands also recorded the biggest win in Women’s EHF EURO qualifier history, a 47:12 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina, surpassing their previous record from 2016.
Iceland, Ukraine, North Macedonia & Greece claimed final spots
Serbia marked their 11th appearance at the EHF EURO after securing their fifth win against Ukraine to finish second in group 5. Austria will now play back-to-back EHF EURO tournaments for the first time since 2008, while North Macedonia reach three consecutive editions for the first time.
Spain also made headlines by handing Israel their heaviest-ever defeat in EHF EURO qualifier history, winning 31:13, beating the previous record set in the reverse fixture.
Among the teams advancing from third place, Iceland, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Greece claimed the final spots. Greece will also make history as the only debutant at the Women’s EHF EURO 2026.
The final round of qualifiers also marked the end of several international careers, with players such as Nathalie Hagman and Jamina Roberts (Sweden), Ivona Pavicevic and Itana Grbic (Montenegro), Kerstin Kündig (Switzerland), Dragana Cvijic and Katarina Krpez-Slezák (Serbia), and Larissa Markovic (Croatia) all bidding farewell to their national teams.