Ohrid Defends the Throne, the Youth Face Norway Today: Macedonian Handball Fills the European Map

The Youth Euros Begin Today - 24 Nations in Cluj and Turda

The handball summer officially kicks off today in Romania, where 24 national teams will compete for the title of the U-20 European Championship, from July 8 to 19 in Cluj and Turda. The fifteenth edition of the championship opens the first phase with six groups of four teams, and the top two from each group advance to the main round. This is the second time in a row the tournament has gathered 24 participants - youth handball in Europe has never been bigger. And never more important for us: this is exactly where you see who will wear the senior jersey five years from now.

The European League with a New Format - 32 Clubs Await Friday's Draw

The EHF confirmed the list of 32 clubs for the group phase of the 2026/27 European League, with the draw scheduled for Friday, July 17. The new format has five phases: a group stage with six rounds from September 29 to December 2, a play-off that also includes the third- and fourth-placed teams from the Champions League groups, the round of 16, the quarterfinals, and a final tournament on May 22 and 23, 2027. Among the 32 participants is Bitola's Eurofarm Pelister - the Macedonian runner-up will test its strength against names like Flensburg, Tatabánya, and Benfica. Europe's second-tier competition is getting ever denser - which means every group will be a minefield.

The European Cup with 83 Clubs - the Draw Already on Tuesday

The third European competition is shaping the new season with 83 teams, the largest field yet. The first round with 38 clubs is played on September 12-13 and 19-20, and the 19 winners will join 45 directly qualified teams in the second round. The draw for the first round is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14. On paper this is the "little" European cup - but last season it was right here that the biggest Macedonian club story was written, and the whole handball Balkans knows it.

Ohrid Defends the Throne, Macedonia with Four Clubs in the European Cup

HC Ohrid, winner of last year's European Cup and author of the city's historic first European title, did not get an invitation to the higher tier - so it will defend the trophy where it won it, against Tatabánya in a final that is still being retold. Joining it in the European Cup will be Alkaloid, which won the same trophy a season earlier, Butel, and Tikveš - the Kavadarci side starts from the first round as seeds, while the other three clubs enter from the second. The math is simple: six Macedonian clubs in Europe next season, with Vardar in the Champions League and Pelister in the European League. A small country, a full European map - who else in the Balkans has that in handball?

The Youth Already in Cluj - Norway Today, Croatia Tomorrow, Denmark on Saturday

The Macedonian U-20 national team of coach Igor Ilievski opens the Euros today at 13:30 against Norway, in Group D, where Croatia follow tomorrow and four-time European champion Denmark on Saturday - all matches in Cluj, in the very hall where the final will also be played. The preparations bring optimism: four wins from four warm-up matches, twice against Saudi Arabia (35:26 and 22:21), then Greece (29:25) and Italy (30:22). Macedonia's best finish remains fourth place from 2002. And one more stake that mustn't be forgotten: the tournament is a qualifier for the U-21 World Championship - which in 2027 is played in Macedonia itself. A host without a place would be an embarrassment no one wants to imagine.