The 2024 European Men's U-20 Handball Championship is the 14th edition of the European Men's U-20 Handball Championship. The tournament is being played in Celje and Laško, Slovenia, from 10 to 21 July 2024.[1]Spain are the defending champions.
On 31 March 2023, Slovenia was given the hosting rights with the games to be played in Celje.[2]
Expansion
After the U-18 Euro was officially expanded to 24 teams,[3] the EHF decided to also expand the U-20 competition to 24 teams also on 23 September 2022.[4]
Format
In the first round, 24 teams are divided into 6 groups of 4:
The six group winners plus the two best runner up (one from Groups A, B and C and one from Groups D, E and F) advance to the Main round.
The four worst runners up and the four best third place teams (two from Groups A, B and C and two from Groups D, E and F) move on to the Intermediate round.
The two worst third place teams (one from Groups A, B and C and one from Groups D, E and F) and all fourth place teams play in the Elimination round.
In the Second round, all teams are again split into 6 groups of 4, but this time, against the teams who advanced to the same round as them. Each separate phase (Main, Intermediate and Elimination) consist of eight teams and are split into 2 group of four.
The teams in the Main round fight to win the championship.
The teams in the Intermediate round play for rankings 9–16.
The teams in the Elimination round play for positions 17–24 and to not get relegated.
Regarding the Main round, The top two from each group progresses to the semifinals, where the winners of the semifinals play for the title, while the two semifinal losers play for bronze.
Qualification
To accommodate 24 teams and fill in the eight extra spots, the EHF decided to not relegate anyone in 2022 and promote the three runners up from the Men's 19 EHF Championship.[5] The last two spots are occupied by the two best ranked teams not yet qualified for the competition. Those two were Greece and Romania.
The draw was held on 29 February 2024 in Vienna at 15:00 (CET).[13][14] Prior to the draw, Austria, Czech Republic and North Macedonia, who all had the same EHF ranking, would be placed into a separate draw to determine each team's position in the draw.[13] Later on, Austria and Czech Republic won the draw and were both placed in pot 3.
Updated to match(es) played on 15 July 2024. Source: EHF Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.
Team qualified for the 2025 Men's Junior World Handball Championship as a host nation
Marketing
Tickets are priced at 12 Euros (10 Euros if ordered in advance) for a day ticket and 30 Euros (25 Euros if ordered in advance) fom a family package.[15]