Vardar have their fixtures: the European autumn starts in Melsungen

Macedonian champions Vardar now know their Champions League group stage schedule. It starts on 10 September away at Germany's Melsungen at 20:45, and the first home match is on 16 September against Nantes. Then come two games against Wisła Płock - at home on 8 October and away on 15 October - followed by the trip to Nantes on 21 October and the close at home against Melsungen on 28 October. Four of the six matches are in the evening slot at 20:45, two start at 18:45. The group is not merciful, but it is not impossible either. Vardar are not playing to take part - they are playing for the knockout round, and that is the only measure that makes sense.

The Champions League expands to 24 teams, and Partizan return after 13 years

The new EHF Champions League season comes with a serious reform: 24 teams instead of 16, split into six groups of four. The group stage starts on 9 September and ends on 29 October after just six rounds, with the top two from each group advancing to the main round, which runs from 18 November 2026 to 4 March 2027. Holders Barcelona begin their defence against debutants Aarhus. The biggest news for the Balkans: Partizan return to the elite after a 13-year absence and immediately host Füchse Berlin, last season's finalists. Zagreb play a regional derby against Celje. More teams means more Balkan clubs on the biggest stage - or, more cynically, more places for those who didn't use to qualify.

The cadets led by seven, then lost: a painful start to the Euros in Belgrade

Macedonia's cadet team opened the Under-18 European Championship in Belgrade with a defeat to Slovenia, after a first half in which they led by seven goals. The second 30 minutes were completely different - the collapse was total, and the Slovenians don't forgive. „We won't give up, even though only 24 hours separate us from the next match,” said coach Kuzmanoski. The championship in Belgrade runs from 29 July to 9 August. Leading Slovenia by seven means the team has quality. Losing that in half an hour means something else is missing - and it isn't talent.

Marković is the new women's national team coach

The Handball Federation of Macedonia has appointed Montenegrin Igor Marković as the new coach of the women's senior national team. Marković was born on 16 December 1981 in Cetinje. Ahead of him is the 2026 European Championship, and his first message was that hard work would go into building a strong team. Montenegro has a women's handball school Macedonia has been watching from a distance for years - European silver, Olympic silver, generations of players who carried clubs across Europe. If that knowledge transfers, the appointment makes sense. If it stays on the CV, it will be one more name on the bench.

Netherlands and Finland take titles in Pristina, Hungary wins the Euro crown

At the M20 EHF Championship in Pristina, the Netherlands lifted the level-one trophy after beating Estonia, while Finland won level two with a victory over Slovakia. The Finns trailed at half-time to the Slovaks, who came back from 12-8 to 14-13, but Finland held a lead of one to three goals right to the final second. The competition is for the 12 best sides that did not qualify for the M20 EHF EURO, which also finished last weekend - there Hungary took the title after extra time against Sweden, 34-32, and Slovenia took bronze 30-28 against Denmark. When Pristina hosts two European tournaments while Skopje fights for slots, it's worth asking who plans better.