All 16 teams in the 2026 IHF Women’s U16 World Championship
The 16 teams and four groups for the inaugural IHF Women’s U16 World Championship, scheduled for 16–24 October 2026 in Agadir, Morocco.
The 2026 IHF Women’s U16 World Championship has 16 national teams, divided into four groups of four. The IHF confirmed the groups after the draw on 24 September. Confirmed draw
The inaugural tournament is scheduled for 16–24 October 2026 in Agadir, Morocco. It is a women’s under-16 competition, separate from senior national-team and club events. IHF tournament announcement
Confirmed teams by group
The following is the IHF’s published draw, current as of 4 October 2026. Team order follows the draw announcement; it is not a standings table. Source: IHF group confirmation, 24 September. The same group membership appears on the IHF competition page.
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | People’s Republic of China, Morocco, USA, Kazakhstan |
| B | Hungary, Paraguay, Guinea, Belarus |
| C | Germany, Uzbekistan, Mexico, Tunisia |
| D | Argentina, Egypt, Switzerland, Russia |
Morocco, the host, is in Group A. Germany and Hungary—the two finalists at the 2026 Women’s 16 EHF European Open—are in Groups C and B, respectively. IHF tournament and field announcement
Why the field is 16 teams, not 12
The IHF Council expanded the competition from its original 12-team plan to 16 teams. The September draw therefore establishes a four-group field, rather than a 12-team tournament. IHF expansion and draw confirmation
The entrants cover five continental regions in the IHF’s announcement: Africa supplies four teams; Asia three; Europe five; North America and the Caribbean two; and South and Central America two. IHF participant list by region
How the groups were drawn
The IHF placed the teams in four performance pots. Germany, Hungary, China and Argentina were in Pot 1, and each now appears in a different group. Morocco was in Pot 2 and, as host, had the right to choose its group before the remaining Pot 2 teams were drawn. IHF draw procedure