European Handball Federation

News Summary:

The European Handball Federation (EHF) and the University of Castilla-La Mancha jointly developed a new "Player Index" on July 1, 2026, intended as a modern reference tool for player assessment, talent development, and the continued overall development of handball in Europe. Previously, on May 6, the EHF sought an Officiating Unit Administrator to serve as a key administrative interface for its network of referees, delegates, and experts, ensuring accurate data management and smooth operational processes. This followed Greece making history on April 11 by qualifying for the Women's EHF EURO 2026, completing the 24-team lineup after the final qualification round. The 2026 tournament marks the first time it will be organized across five different countries: Czechia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Türkiye, with the hosts and the top three sides from the previous edition (Norway, Denmark, and Hungary) already qualified. Earlier, on March 27, European handball’s Secretaries General met in Lisbon to discuss areas of development like the EHF Master Plan and Grassroots Charter, future competition systems for club and national teams, and media operations for the Women’s EHF EURO 2026. In early March, five teams, including the second, third, and fourth-place finishers at the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, secured their places at the Women’s EHF EURO 2026 after four of the six qualifier rounds.