Today, on December 12, the qualification draw for the Women's European Handball Championship took place, which will be held in March 2027.

12 teams will start from the main round, and 11, including Ukraine, from the elite round. Six national teams will qualify for the final tournament from the elite round, with one additional spot to be contested in play-off matches.

As a result of the draw, Ukrainian women found themselves in Group 4 of the elite round, where their opponents are Poland, Belgium, and the best team from Group B of the main round.

Women's Euro-2027 Handball Championship. Main Round

Group A: Czech Republic, Belarus, Norway, Kazakhstan.

Group B: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, England, Lithuania.

Group C: Slovenia, France, Northern Ireland, Latvia.

Women's Euro-2027 Handball Championship. Elite Round

Group 1: Portugal, Finland, Netherlands, one of the two best teams finishing second in the main round (number 2).

Group 2: Hungary, Sweden, Slovakia, the best team from Group C of the main round.

Group 3: Spain, Italy, the best team from Group A of the main round, one of the two best teams finishing second in the main round (number 1).

Group 4: Ukraine, Poland, Belgium, the best team from Group B of the main round.

Croatia will host Euro-2027 and receive a direct entry to the final stage. The final tournament itself will take place in Osijek, at the multi-purpose arena "Arena Gradski Vrt."

Women's Euro-2027 Handball Championship Calendar

Qualification draw: December 12, 2025.

Main round: March 17–22, 2026.

Elite round: October 6–11, 2026.

Tie-breakers: November 12–26, 2026.

Final stage draw: Date and time to be announced later.

Final tournament (Osijek, Croatia): March 14–21, 2027.

Format of the Women's Euro-2027 Handball Championship

Qualification

Main Round

Participants will play in mini-tournaments on one venue in groups of four teams. Winners of three groups and two best second-place finishers advance to the elite round.

Elite Round

Winners of the main round will join 11 teams that have direct entries to the elite round. Ukraine, along with Spain, Portugal and Hungary, was in the first pot before the draw. The second pot included Italy, Poland, Finland and Sweden, while third and fourth pots were formed by Netherlands, Belgium, Slovakia and best representatives of the main round.

Sixteen teams will be divided into four groups of four teams. Matches in groups will take place in mini-tournaments on one venue. Four group winners and two best second-place finishers will secure spots for the final tournament. The remaining two second-place finishers will play off against each other.

Play-off Matches

The last participant of the final tournament will be determined in two play-off matches. The second-place finisher with the worst record in the elite round will host the first play-off match.

Final Tournament

Croatia and seven teams that qualify for the final tournament through qualification will be divided into two groups of four teams. Two best teams from each group advance to the semi-finals.