January 2024. The winner of the 2024 African Championships will qualify for Paris 2024. The next two highest ranked teams will participate in the 2024 IHF Men's Olympic Qualification Tournaments.
The Gruelling Journey for Men's Handball Teams to Earn their Spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics
The Epic Journey of Men's Handball Teams to Paris 2024 - From Regional Battles to Global Showdowns, Who Will Qualify for the Ultimate Sporting Challenge?
Handball is a fast-paced and exciting sport that has been a regular fixture at the Olympic Games since 1972. The sport did make a single appearance at the 1932 Berlin Olympics, and in 1952 as a demonstration sport, but it wasn't until Munich 1972 that the sport found a permanent spot on the Olympic program. Since Montreal 1976, the men's Olympic handball tournament has been a 12-team affair with teams split into two groups. The format for the men's tournament has remained unchanged since Sydney 2000 from which time the top four teams in each group has advanced to the quarterfinal stage.
Paris 2024 hosts France will be one of the favourites to win the men's handball tournaments as they have been the most successful team in men's handball winning 3 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze. France have won gold at three of the four most recent Olympics, only going down to Denmark 28-26 in the final at Rio 2016. At Paris 2024, handball matches are scheduled to be hosted at South Paris Arena 6 (preliminary phase) and Pierre Mauroy Stadium (final phase).
Qualified teams
With hosts France receiving automatic qualification, the remaining 11 teams in the Paris 2024 men's handball tournament will qualify through one of three paths: the 2023 World Championships, regional championships, or the IHF Men's Olympic Qualification Tournaments.
The top ranked team in the final standings of the 2023 World Championship and each of the regional champions will qualify for Paris 2024 (total 5 teams). A total of 12 teams will contest one of three Olympic qualifying tournaments for the final six places for Paris 2024.
Hosts
France
World Championships
Denmark
Regional Championships
Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
2024 IHF Men's Olympic Qualification Tournaments
Tournament 1
Tournament 2
Tournament 3
Qualifying tournaments
27 October-1 November 2023. The winner of the men's handball tournament at the 2023 Pan American Games will qualify for Paris 2024. The next highest ranked team will participate in the 2024 IHF Men's Olympic Qualification Tournaments.
Participants
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
United States
Uruguay
Team 6
Team 7
Team 8
18-28 October 2023. The winner of the 2023 Asian Qualification Tournament will qualify for Paris 2024. The next highest ranked team will participate in the 2024 IHF Men's Olympic Qualification Tournaments.
10-28 January 2024. The highest placed team at the 2024 European Men's Handball Championships excluding France and Denmark (both already qualified for Paris 2024 as hosts and 2023 world champions respectively) will qualify for Paris 2024. The next two highest ranked teams not already qualified for Paris 2024 will participate in the 2024 IHF Men's Olympic Qualification Tournaments.
Participants
Austria
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Faroe Islands
France
Gerogia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Montenegro
Nethlands
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
After the conclusion of the regional championships, 12 teams will be selected to participate in the 2024 IHF Men's Olympic Qualification Tournaments. The 12 teams will be split into three groups with the top two teams from each group qualifying for Paris 2024. The 12 teams will be selected from the following:
Full details: Qualification System - Games of the XXXIII Olympiad - Handball