Germany Faces Austria in Opening Match of 2026 Handball European Championship

The 2026 Handball European Championship kicks off on January 15 with Germany facing Austria in the opening match at 20:30. The game will be broadcast live on ARD, with coverage beginning at 20:15, providing fans full access to the highly anticipated contest. Germany's group stage is notably challenging, featuring Austria, Serbia, and the title-contending Spain. Only the top two teams from the group will advance to the main round, underscoring the importance of a strong start for the German squad.

Germany enters the match as the favorite, holding an unbeaten record against Austria with eight wins and two draws. The team, led by captain Johannes Golla who described the group as "eine extrem anspruchsvolle Gruppe" (an extremely demanding group), is set on rebounding after their disappointing quarterfinal exit at the 2025 World Championship. Preparation appears solid following recent successful matches against Croatia.

Interestingly, Germany’s opponents Austria, Serbia, and Spain are all coached by Spanish head coaches – Iker Romero, Raúl González, and Jordi Ribera respectively. Alfred Gíslason, Germany’s coach, expressed admiration for these coaches, noting their significant impact on international handball and highlighting his personal connections to the Basque Country and past competitions against them. He characterizes the group stage as a "little Spanish coach parade," underscoring the high level of competition and tactical challenge Germany will face in the earliest phase of the tournament.

This European Championship, hosted by Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, is seen as a vital benchmark ahead of the 2027 World Championship, which Germany will host. Given the closely contested past encounters with Austria, Germany aims for a commanding performance to set the tone for the tournament’s progression.