The Ukrainian men’s handball team will participate in the 2026 European Championship, which starts on 15 January and lasts until 1 February. The competition will be held in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. In the group stage, where 24 teams will compete, the Blue and Yellows will face Norway, France, and the Czech Republic. Our team will play its first match against one of the tournament hosts, Norway, according to Sport Bet.
Ukraine’s path to Euro 2026 handball: key moments
After a two-year hiatus, the national team is returning to the elite of European handball. The team qualified for Euro 2026 under the quota for the best teams that took third place, closing the list of qualifying positions.
This will be the eighth appearance for the ‘blue and yellows’ in the continental championships. Prior to this, our men’s handball team was eliminated twice in a row after the starting stage. The peak of the national team’s success remains reaching the second group round. The last time this was achieved was in 2002 and 2006.
2026 European Handball Championship – Ukraine’s roster
Goalkeepers: Hennadiy Komok (Buzău, Romania), Oleksiy Novikov (Fivers Margareten, Austria), Anton Terekhov (Minaur Baia Mare, Romania).
Left wings: Dmytro Artemenko, Pavlo Savitsky (both Azoty Puławy, Poland).
Right wings: Andriy Akimenko (Dinamo Bucharest, Romania), Danylo Hlusak (Sighișoara, Romania).
Centres: Zakhar Denisov (Politehnica Timișoara, Romania), Danylo Savchuk (Spartak Kyiv), Oleksandr Tilt (Hapoel Ashdod, Israel).
Left midfielders: Taras Minotsky (Dunkirk, France), Igor Turchenko (Limoges, France), Maxim Strelnikov (Hrobry Głogów, Poland).
Right midfielders: Ilya Blyznyuk (Karviná, Czech Republic), Bogdan Cherkashchenko (Faagil, Kuwait).
Line players: Ivan Burzak (Ostrovia Ostrow, Poland), Oleksandr Onufrienko (Celje, Slovenia), Dmytro Tyutyunnik (Motor).
Euro 2026 Handball Championship – Ukraine squad
The Blue and Yellows’ line-up harmoniously combines youthful drive and extensive experience. In attack, all hopes rest on left wing Artemenko and left back Turchenko, who together scored almost a hundred goals in the qualifying round.
At the same time, the legendary Ukrainian handball player Yevhen Komok guarantees peace in the goal. For the 38-year-old goalkeeper, this is already his fourth European Championship, and his career in the national team is so long that he even managed to play in the same team as the current Ukrainian coach Vadym Brazhnyk.
In an exclusive comment for Suspilne Sport, the goalkeeper said that he feels good and is ready, as always, to help the national team.
The right wing of Romania’s Dynamo, Andriy Akimenko, remains the only Ukrainian legionnaire in the Champions League. His personal record for the season in the European Cup was set in the game against Füchse, where he scored seven goals.
Dmytro Goriga, the top scorer of the 2022 national team (17 goals), will not play in this year’s championship.
Who will play against Ukraine at Euro 2026
The Norwegian national team. The host of the championship and a stable participant in top tournaments. The team reached its peak in 2017 and 2019. At that time, the Norwegians twice became world vice-champions. In addition, the Norwegian national team won bronze at Euro 2020. The Norwegians finished the previous European Championship at the second group stage.
In a comment for Suspilne Sport, head coach Vadym Brazhnyk noted that Ukraine does not plan to pay special attention to the Norwegian leader Sander Sangosen, but will instead focus on team defence and their own game.
The French national team is a world handball powerhouse and European champion (four Euro victories). The French are also six-time world champions and three-time Olympic champions.
The Czech national team is an experienced participant in the European Championship. The team’s highest achievement remains sixth place in 2018. In the previous two tournaments, the Czechs ended their campaign after the first group round.
Who will play in the 2026 European Handball Championship
Group A: Germany, Spain, Austria, Serbia
Group B: Denmark, Portugal, North Macedonia, Romania
Group C: France, Norway, Czech Republic, Ukraine
Group D: Slovenia, Faroe Islands, Montenegro, Switzerland
Group E: Sweden, Croatia, Netherlands, Georgia
Group F: Hungary, Iceland, Poland, Italy
How Euro 2026 in handball will be held: the main points about the format
On their way to the title, teams will have to overcome two group stages. Successful performance in the first round (advancing to the top two in the group) guarantees at least four more matches in the main stage.
The final four will be determined by the results of the second stage, where the two best teams from each group will compete for medals.
An important feature of Euro 2026 is the high prize money: the teams that finish in the top three will receive tickets to the 2027 World Cup, and the gold medalists will receive an additional bonus in the form of direct qualification for Euro 2028.
How Ukrainian handball players trained before the championship
Our handball players began their preparations for Euro 2026 in January with appearances at the Yellow Cup in Switzerland. The friendly tournament brought the team mixed results: one victory in a match against Bahrain and two defeats against Macedonia and Switzerland.
Yellow Cup results: how Ukraine performed in the friendly tournament in Switzerland
Ukraine — Switzerland 27:38
Ukraine — North Macedonia 26:31
Ukraine — Bahrain 33:31
In an exclusive comment for Suspilne Sport, the coach of the ‘blue and yellows’ Vadym Brazhnyk noted an improvement in defence, although he acknowledged the problem with frequent ball losses. He named the transition to fast play as the main achievement of the preparation: according to the national team coach, scoring about a third of the goals per match thanks to counterattacks is a big advantage that allows the team to play more effectively.
Group C match schedule: Ukraine’s schedule at the European Championship
Thursday, 15 January, 21:30. Ukraine — Norway
Saturday, 17 January, 19:00. Ukraine — France
Monday, 19 January, 19:00. Ukraine — Czech Republic
Full schedule of the 2026 European Handball Championship: from the opening to the final
15-21 January. First group stage
22-28 January. Second group stage
30 January. Semi-finals
1 February. Final and third-place match
As we reported earlier, Ukraine finished in the top 10 in the relay at the Biathlon World Cup stage.
Who will play in the 2026 European Handball Championship
Group A: Germany, Spain, Austria, Serbia
Group B: Denmark, Portugal, North Macedonia, Romania
Group C: France, Norway, Czech Republic, Ukraine
Group D: Slovenia, Faroe Islands, Montenegro, Switzerland
Group E: Sweden, Croatia, Netherlands, Georgia
Group F: Hungary, Iceland, Poland, Italy
How Euro 2026 in handball will be held: the main points about the format
On their way to the title, teams will have to overcome two group stages. Successful performance in the first round (advancing to the top two in the group) guarantees at least four more matches in the main stage.
The final four will be determined by the results of the second stage, where the two best teams from each group will compete for medals.
An important feature of Euro 2026 is the high prize money: the teams that finish in the top three will receive tickets to the 2027 World Cup, and the gold medalists will receive an additional bonus in the form of direct qualification for Euro 2028.
How Ukrainian handball players trained before the championship
Our handball players began their preparations for Euro 2026 in January with appearances at the Yellow Cup in Switzerland. The friendly tournament brought the team mixed results: one victory in a match against Bahrain and two defeats against Macedonia and Switzerland.
Yellow Cup results: how Ukraine performed in a friendly tournament in Switzerland
Ukraine — Switzerland 27:38
Ukraine — North Macedonia 26:31
Ukraine — Bahrain 33:31
In an exclusive comment for Suspilne Sport, the coach of the ‘blue and yellows’ Vadym Brazhnyk noted an improvement in defence, although he acknowledged the problem with frequent ball losses. He named the transition to fast play as the main achievement of the preparation: according to the national team coach, scoring about a third of the goals per match thanks to counterattacks is a big advantage that allows the team to play more effectively.
Group C match schedule: Ukraine’s schedule at the European Championship
Thursday, 15 January, 21:30. Ukraine — Norway
Saturday, 17 January, 19:00. Ukraine — France
Monday, 19 January, 19:00. Ukraine — Czech Republic
Full schedule of the 2026 European Handball Championship: from the opening to the final
15-21 January. First group stage
22-28 January. Second group stage
30 January. Semi-finals
1 February. Final and third-place match
