Registration opens for 2015 World Championship Qualification Europe

The European Handball Federation invites all its member federations to register for the Qualification Europe to the Men's World Championship 2015 in Qatar.

The registration period ends on 7 June 2013.

There will be 24 teams participating in the final tournament. The list will consist of the following

• Defending champions Spain
• Organisers Qatar
• Three teams from Africa
• Three teams from Asia
• Three teams from Pan America
• One team from Oceania
• Three teams from Europe + eight performance places + one place for the best continent of the last World Championship

That means that there are overall twelve places available for European national teams, not including the defending champions from Spain who are already a fixed entry.

Qualification criteria

The following qualification criteria apply for the remaining twelve European places

• The three best ranked teams at the Men’s EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark will qualify directly for the 2015 World Championship
• The remaining nine European places will be decided in the Qualification Europe

The first phase of the Qualification Europe for the 2015 Men’s World Championship will be played over three weeks in home and away matches.

The following three periods are available for these matches

Round 1: Wednesday to Thursday; 30. – 31.10.2013

Round 2: Saturday to Sunday; 02. – 03.11.2013

Round 3: Thursday 02.01.2014

Round 4: Saturday to Sunday; 04. – 05.01.2014

Round 5: Wednesday to Thursday, 08. – 09.01.2014

Round 6: Saturday to Sunday, 11. – 12.01.2014

The draw of the Men’s 2015 World Championship Qualification matches is planned to be held in June 2013.

Play-Off matches in the second qualification phase

Spain and three best ranked teams from the EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark qualify directly for the 2015 Men’s World Championship in Qatar.

All other teams participating in the final round of the EHF EURO 2014 qualify directly for the 2015 Men’s World Championship play-off in June 2014.

The remaining teams for the 2015 World Championship play-offs come from the qualification.

The play-off matches will be played in a KO-system with first and second leg matches at two weekends from 7 to 15 June 2014.

According to a decision of the EHF Executive Committee in March 2003 no double matches in one country shall be allowed.

The winners of the play-off matches will qualify for the final tournament of the 2015 Men's World Championship in Qatar.