CAIRO — Egyptian handball giants Al-Ahly and Zamalek will be on separate paths at the 2025 IHF Men’s Club World Championship after the highly anticipated draw in Cairo placed the fierce rivals in different groups, ensuring fans will have to wait for a possible knockout-stage showdown.
The 18th edition of the prestigious tournament — the pinnacle of global club handball — will be staged in Egypt from September 26 to October 2, featuring nine elite teams from around the world.
All matches will be played at the New Administrative Capital Hall, a venue that has become a regular stage for handball’s biggest events, having hosted the 2021 IHF Men’s World Championship, the most recent Men’s Club World Championship, and this year’s IHF Men’s Youth World Championship.
The draw ceremony, held at Cairo International Stadium on the sidelines of the Youth World Championship, was presided over by IHF Competition Director Patric Strub.
He was joined by Yasser El Ramli, the IHF Men’s Club World Championship Competition Director, Egyptian national team goalkeeper Karim Hendawy, and FC Barcelona representative Jordi Rosell.
In the draw process, teams from Pots 3 and 2 were placed first, with Al-Ahly earning the privilege to select their group.
The Egyptian champions opted for Group B, where they will face defending title-holders Veszprem HC of Hungary and Australian champions Sydney Uni.
Zamalek, meanwhile, landed in Group C alongside the competition’s most decorated side, FC Barcelona — winners of a record five titles — and Brazilian powerhouse Handebol Taubate.
The line-up sets the stage for high-octane clashes and the possibility of a historic all-Egyptian meeting later in the competition.
In Group A, tournament debutants Sharjah SC of the United Arab Emirates will face a daunting challenge, drawn against three-time champions SC Magdeburg — winners in 2021, 2022 and 2023 — and American side California Eagles, who will take part in the competition for the second time in history.
With all participating teams confirmed in July and the competition now just weeks away, preparations are in full swing. Following the draw, all nine participating clubs have a clear picture of their group-stage battles as they gear up for the prestigious event.
The preliminary round will run from September 26 to 28 in a round-robin format, with Pot 2 seeds — FC Barcelona, SC Magdeburg, and defending champions Veszprem HC — scheduled to play on September 27 and 28.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, with the semi-finals set for September 30 and the final to crown the 2025 champions on October 2.
IHF Club World draw
Group A: Sharjah (UAE), Magdeburg (GER), California (USA)
Group B: Al-Ahly (EGY), Veszprem (HUN), Sydney (AUS)
Group C: Zamalek (EGY), Barcelona (ESP), Handebol Taubate (BRA)
