The DHB Nationalmannschaft represents the German Handball Federation - the largest handball governing body in the world - at international level. With several world and European championship titles as well as Olympic medals, the German men's national handball team is one of the most successful handball teams in the world. At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the team sensationally won the silver medal and was only beaten in the final by the reigning world champion Denmark.
The German women's national handball team has qualified for the Olympic Games five times so far, celebrating its greatest successes in 1984 and 1992 with 4th place. At the Women's EHF EURO 2024, national coach Markus Gaugisch's team recently finished seventh, exactly the same position as at the 2020 and 2022 European Championships.
Each match is flanked by an attractive entertainment program
Tickets for national team matches are therefore in high demand and the arenas are usually sold out. The events are among the absolute highlights in handball. After all, the games are not just about sporting performance and victory, but also about the outstanding atmosphere and the entertaining supporting program for all handball fans young and old. The national team's show begins even before the players and their team set foot on the hall floor.
Top handball performance meets enthusiastic spectators
In the stands, long-time handball fans mingle with those who want to become fans. And there is plenty on offer even before the match begins: Cheerleaders get the fans in the mood with sporty choreographies, the mascot does his rounds in the fan block and is always available for a photo together. The background noise increases constantly and reaches its first climax when the players march in accompanied by frenetic cheering.
In its matches, the German Handball Federation national team always manages to demonstrate its charisma for German handball. When it comes down to it, the coaches and squad show what they have been working towards as a team in the training sessions: Fast moves in attack, strong defense and spectacular goals that thrill the fans.
The Men's European Championship: The Men's EHF EURO
So, it's no wonder that the German team often qualifies for the Men's EHF EURO at an early stage. They are accompanied and supported by the roaring atmosphere in the arenas! The German Handball Federation national team has qualified for the European Championship more than ten times. In 2004, the team led by national coach Heiner Brand won the well-deserved European Championship title for the first time. The team became European champions for the last time in 2016.
The national team at the Handball World Championships
At the World Championship tournaments, the national team's opponents always must reckon with a strong squad. There is hardly a Men's Handball World Championship for which the German team has not qualified.
In its long history, the national team has already taken home the World Cup trophy several times, including at the very first Men's Handball World Championship in Berlin in 1938.
The 2007 World Cup, also taking place in Germany, sends the entire country into a handball frenzy. In the final, the DHB national team put in a magnificent performance and won 29:24 against Poland. This special World Championship goes down in handball history as a “winter fairytale” and is even captured on celluloid as the film “Project Gold” and shown in German cinemas.
The 27th Women's Handball World Championship will be a very special highlight on German soil in 2025. The arenas in Stuttgart, Trier and Dortmund are looking forward to welcoming many international fans. In front of a home crowd, the national women's handball team would like to build on previous successes.
A sporting highlight: the day of handball
For many handball fans, the Day of Handball, organized by the German Handball Federation for the first time in 2017, is an important date in the calendar. On this day, the country's handball clubs across Germany celebrate a sporting festival with a whole host of programs and handball matches. Not only regional and U19 teams take part, but also the women's national team and the men's national team are not to be missed at this major event.
