# 1997 World Men's Handball Championship

The 1997 World Men's Handball Championship was the 15th team handball World Championship. It was held in Kumamoto, Japan and was the first World Championship not played in a European country. Russia won the championship.

## Qualification

| Competition | Dates | Vacancies | Qualified |
| Host nation | | 1 | Japan |
| 1995 World Men's Handball Championship | 7–21 May 1995 | 1 | France |
| Handball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament | 24 July – 4 August 1996 | 1 | Croatia |
| 1996 European Men's Handball Championship | 24 May – 2 June 1996 | 4 | Russia Spain Yugoslavia Sweden |
| 1996 Pan American Men's Handball Championship | 8–13 October 1996 | 3 | Cuba Argentina Brazil |
| 1996 African Men's Handball Championship | 16–29 October 1996 | 4 | Algeria Tunisia Egypt Morocco |
| European qualification | 20 August – 1 December 1996 | 6 | Czech Republic Hungary Iceland Italy Norway Portugal |
| Asian qualification | 30 September – 4 December 1996 | 3 | Saudi Arabia China South Korea |
| EHF v OCHF Play-off | 31 January – 2 February 1997 | 1 | Lithuania |

## Venues

The organizing committee used four venues to host the 1997 World Men's Handball Championship:
* Group A: Park Dome Kumamoto
* Group B: Kumamoto City Gym
* Group C: Yamaga City Gym
* Group D: Yatsushiro City Gym

## Preliminary round

The top 4 placed teams of each group continues to the knockout stage. The teams are ranked through the following rules.
* Team with the most points (2 points for each won game, 1 point for each drawn game).
* If two teams get the same points, the winner in the game between the two teams get ranked first.
* If the game between the teams ended in a draw, the team with the best goal difference get ranked first.

### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Iceland | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 124 | 106 | +18 | 9 | Round of 16 |
| 2 | Yugoslavia | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 129 | 111 | +18 | 8 | Round of 16 |
| 3 | Lithuania | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 110 | 102 | +8 | 5 | Round of 16 |
| 4 | Japan | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 101 | 104 | −3 | 4 | Round of 16 |
| 5 | Algeria | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 103 | 112 | −9 | 4 | |
| 6 | Saudi Arabia | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 94 | 126 | −32 | 0 | |
| 17 May 19:30 | Iceland | 24 – 20 | Japan | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 17 May 19:30 | | (14-10) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 18 May 15:00 | Saudi Arabia | 18 – 27 | Lithuania | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 18 May 15:00 | | (6-12) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 18 May 17:00 | Yugoslavia | 22 – 19 | Japan | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 18 May 17:00 | | (9-7) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 18 May 19:00 | Algeria | 27 – 27 | Iceland | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 18 May 19:00 | | (13-15) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 19 May 13:00 | Yugoslavia | 29 – 21 | Lithuania | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 19 May 13:00 | | (17-10) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 19 May 15:00 | Algeria | 19 – 14 | Saudi Arabia | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 19 May 15:00 | | (6-3) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 21 May 19:00 | Japan | 23 – 20 | Saudi Arabia | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 21 May 19:00 | | (15-10) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 22 May 13:00 | Lithuania | 19 – 19 | Algeria | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 22 May 13:00 | | (10-10) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 22 May 15:00 | Iceland | 27 – 18 | Yugoslavia | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 22 May 15:00 | | (11-9) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 24 May 15:00 | Saudi Arabia | 20 – 32 | Yugoslavia | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 24 May 15:00 | | (11-15) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 24 May 17:00 | Algeria | 14 – 24 | Japan | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 24 May 17:00 | | (4-13) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 24 May 19:00 | Lithuania | 19 – 21 | Iceland | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 24 May 19:00 | | (8-10) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 25 May 15:00 | Saudi Arabia | 22 – 25 | Iceland | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 25 May 15:00 | | (12-15) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 25 May 17:00 | Japan | 15 – 24 | Lithuania | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 25 May 17:00 | | (7-11) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 25 May 19:00 | Yugoslavia | 28 – 24 | Algeria | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 25 May 19:00 | | (14-12) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | France | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 127 | 114 | +13 | 8 | Round of 16 |
| 2 | Sweden | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 141 | 101 | +40 | 8 | Round of 16 |
| 3 | South Korea | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 128 | 127 | +1 | 7 | Round of 16 |
| 4 | Norway | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 104 | 109 | −5 | 4 | Round of 16 |
| 5 | Italy | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 100 | 105 | −5 | 3 | |
| 6 | Argentina | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 96 | 140 | −44 | 0 | |
| 18 May 15:00 | France | 25 – 21 | Italy | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 18 May 15:00 | | (12-10) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 18 May 17:00 | Norway | 21 – 21 | South Korea | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 18 May 17:00 | | (11-8) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 18 May 19:00 | Sweden | 36 – 17 | Argentina | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 18 May 19:00 | | (17-6) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 20 May 13:00 | France | 26 – 27 | South Korea | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 20 May 13:00 | | (18-11) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 20 May 15:00 | Sweden | 24 – 17 | Norway | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 20 May 15:00 | | (12-8) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 21 May 18:00 | Italy | 19 – 19 | Norway | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 21 May 18:00 | | (10-9) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 21 May 20:00 | Argentina | 20 – 24 | France | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 21 May 20:00 | | (8-12) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 22 May 13:00 | Argentina | 15 – 21 | Italy | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 22 May 13:00 | | (3-10) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 22 May 15:00 | South Korea | 21 – 36 | Sweden | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 22 May 15:00 | | (9-21) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 24 May 15:00 | South Korea | 32 – 22 | Argentina | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 24 May 15:00 | | (19-13) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 24 May 17:00 | Norway | 20 – 23 | France | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 24 May 17:00 | | (10-11) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 24 May 19:00 | Sweden | 19 – 17 | Italy | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 24 May 19:00 | | (8-10) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 25 May 15:00 | Italy | 22 – 27 | South Korea | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 25 May 15:00 | | (9-12) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 25 May 17:00 | Norway | 27 – 22 | Argentina | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 25 May 17:00 | | (14-9) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 25 May 19:00 | France | 29 – 26 | Sweden | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 25 May 19:00 | | (12-14) | | City gym, Kumamoto |

### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Spain | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 141 | 103 | +38 | 9 | Round of 16 |
| 2 | Egypt | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 129 | 94 | +35 | 9 | Round of 16 |
| 3 | Czech Republic | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 119 | 105 | +14 | 6 | Round of 16 |
| 4 | Tunisia | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 92 | 108 | −16 | 4 | Round of 16 |
| 5 | Portugal | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 119 | 123 | −4 | 2 | |
| 6 | Brazil | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 65 | 132 | −67 | 0 | |
| 18 May 15:00 | Portugal | 26 – 18 | Brazil | City gym, Yamaga |
| 18 May 15:00 | | (13-7) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 18 May 17:00 | Czech Republic | 22 – 24 | Egypt | City gym, Yamaga |
| 18 May 17:00 | | (11-12) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 18 May 19:00 | Spain | 32 – 21 | Tunisia | City gym, Yamaga |
| 18 May 19:00 | | (13-11) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 20 May 13:00 | Brazil | 10 – 24 | Czech Republic | City gym, Yamaga |
| 20 May 13:00 | | (6-12) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 20 May 15:00 | Egypt | 19 – 19 | Spain | City gym, Yamaga |
| 20 May 15:00 | | (11-10) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 21 May 18:00 | Tunisia | 19 – 18 | Portugal | City gym, Yamaga |
| 21 May 18:00 | | (9-7) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 21 May 20:00 | Spain | 32 – 11 | Brazil | City gym, Yamaga |
| 21 May 20:00 | | (15-3) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 22 May 13:00 | Egypt | 24 – 17 | Tunisia | City gym, Yamaga |
| 22 May 13:00 | | (12-8) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 22 May 15:00 | Czech Republic | 28 – 24 | Portugal | City gym, Yamaga |
| 22 May 15:00 | | (14-11) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 24 May 15:00 | Brazil | 11 – 33 | Egypt | City gym, Yamaga |
| 24 May 15:00 | | (4-18) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 24 May 17:00 | Czech Republic | 19 – 18 | Tunisia | City gym, Yamaga |
| 24 May 17:00 | | (10-12) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 24 May 19:00 | Portugal | 26 – 29 | Spain | City gym, Yamaga |
| 24 May 19:00 | | (11-12) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 25 May 15:00 | Tunisia | 17 – 15 | Brazil | City gym, Yamaga |
| 25 May 15:00 | | (11-6) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 25 May 17:00 | Portugal | 25 – 29 | Egypt | City gym, Yamaga |
| 25 May 17:00 | | (14-12) | | City gym, Yamaga |
| 25 May 19:00 | Spain | 29 – 26 | Czech Republic | City gym, Yamaga |
| 25 May 19:00 | | (13-11) | | City gym, Yamaga |

### Group D

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Russia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 84 | +66 | 10 | Round of 16 |
| 2 | Hungary | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 128 | 103 | +25 | 8 | Round of 16 |
| 3 | Cuba | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 128 | 117 | +11 | 5 | Round of 16 |
| 4 | Croatia | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 123 | 115 | +8 | 5 | Round of 16 |
| 5 | China | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 101 | 160 | −59 | 2 | |
| 6 | Morocco | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 90 | 141 | −51 | 0 | |
| 18 May 15:00 | Russia | 31 – 17 | Cuba | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 18 May 15:00 | | (17-9) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 18 May 17:00 | Croatia | 34 – 21 | China | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 18 May 17:00 | | (17-9) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 18 May 19:00 | Hungary | 25 – 19 | Morocco | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 18 May 19:00 | | (10-8) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 19 May 13:00 | China | 15 – 34 | Russia | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 19 May 13:00 | | (6-20) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 19 May 15:00 | Morocco | 17 – 26 | Croatia | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 19 May 15:00 | | (7-14) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 21 May 18:00 | Russia | 30 – 13 | Morocco | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 21 May 18:00 | | (14-7) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 21 May 20:00 | Cuba | 21 – 22 | Hungary | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 21 May 20:00 | | (8-11) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 22 May 13:00 | China | 21 – 32 | Cuba | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 22 May 13:00 | | (9-19) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 22 May 15:00 | Croatia | 20 – 23 | Hungary | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 22 May 15:00 | | (10-8) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 24 May 15:00 | Morocco | 21 – 25 | China | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 24 May 15:00 | | (8-13) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 24 May 17:00 | Croatia | 23 – 23 | Cuba | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 24 May 17:00 | | (13-13) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 24 May 19:00 | Hungary | 19 – 24 | Russia | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 24 May 19:00 | | (7-13) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 25 May 15:00 | Cuba | 35 – 20 | Morocco | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 25 May 15:00 | | (17-16) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 25 May 17:00 | Hungary | 39 – 19 | China | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 25 May 17:00 | | (20-12) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 25 May 19:00 | Russia | 31 – 20 | Croatia | City gym, Yatsushiro |
| 25 May 19:00 | | (15-7) | | City gym, Yatsushiro |

## Final round
### Bracket

| Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | Final | Final | Final |
| A1 | Iceland | 32 | | | | | | | | | | |
| B4 | Norway | 28 | | | | | | | | | | |
| B4 | Norway | 28 | A1 | Iceland | 25 | | | | | | | |
| | | | D2 | Hungary | 26 | | | | | | | |
| C3 | Czech Republic | 19 | D2 | Hungary | 26 | | | | | | | |
| D2 | Hungary | 20 | | | | | | | | | | |
| D2 | Hungary | 20 | | | | D2 | Hungary | 19 | | | | |
| | | | | | | B2 | Sweden | 31 | | | | |
| C1 | Spain | 31 | | | | | | | B2 | Sweden | 31 | | | | |
| D4 | Croatia | 25 | | | | | | | | | | |
| D4 | Croatia | 25 | C1 | Spain | 24 | | | | | | | |
| | | | B2 | Sweden | 28 | | | | | | | |
| A3 | Lithuania | 20 | B2 | Sweden | 28 | | | | | | | |
| B2 | Sweden | 32 | | | | | | | | | | |
| B2 | Sweden | 32 | | | | | | | | B2 | Sweden | 21 |
| | | | | | | | | | | D1 | Russia | 23 |
| D3 | Cuba | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | D1 | Russia | 23 |
| C2 | Egypt | 24 | | | | | | |
| C2 | Egypt | 24 | C2 | Egypt | 19 | | | |
| | | | B1 | France | 22 | | | |
| B1 | France | 22 | B1 | France | 22 | | | |
| A4 | Japan | 21 | | | | | | |
| A4 | Japan | 21 | | | | B1 | France | 24 |
| | | | | | | D1 | Russia | 25 |
| B3 | South Korea | 37 | | | | D1 | Russia | 25 | | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| A2 | Yugoslavia | 33 | | | | | | |
| A2 | Yugoslavia | 33 | B3 | South Korea | 15 | | | | | D2 | Hungary | 27 |
| | | | D1 | Russia | 32 | | | | | B1 | France | 28 |
| D1 | Russia | 20 | D1 | Russia | 32 | | | | | B1 | France | 28 |
| C4 | Tunisia | 14 | | | | | | |
| 5-8th place semifinals | 5-8th place semifinals | 5-8th place semifinals | 5th place | 5th place | 5th place |
| A1 | Iceland | 32 | | | |
| C1 | Spain | 23 | | | |
| C1 | Spain | 23 | A1 | Iceland | 23 |
| | | | C2 | Egypt | 20 |
| C2 | Egypt | 28 | C2 | Egypt | 20 |
| B3 | South Korea | 27 | 7th place | 7th place | 7th place |
| | | | C1 | Spain | 33 |
| | | | B3 | South Korea | 26 |

### Round of 16

| 27 May 13:00 | Iceland | 32 – 28 | Norway | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 13:00 | | (13-15) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 13:00 | Spain | 31 – 25 | Croatia | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 13:00 | | (16-14) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 15:00 | South Korea | 37 – 33 (ET) | Yugoslavia | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 15:00 | | (12-13) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| Park Dome, Kumamoto |||
| 27 May 15:00 | Cuba | 20 – 24 | Egypt | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 15:00 | | (9-10) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 18:00 | Lithuania | 20 – 32 | Sweden | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 18:00 | | (9-18) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 18:00 | Czech Republic | 19 – 20 | Hungary | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 18:00 | | (9-11) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 20:00 | France | 22 – 21 | Japan | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 20:00 | | (11-11) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 20:00 | Russia | 20 – 14 | Tunisia | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 27 May 20:00 | | (12-5) | | City gym, Kumamoto |

### Quarter-finals

| 29 May 18:00 | Iceland | 25 – 26 | Hungary | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 29 May 18:00 | | (11-14) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 29 May 18:00 | Spain | 24 – 28 (ET) | Sweden | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 29 May 18:00 | | (12-12) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| City gym, Kumamoto |||
| 29 May 20:00 | South Korea | 15 – 32 | Russia | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 29 May 20:00 | | (6-16) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 29 May 20:00 | Egypt | 19 – 22 | France | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 29 May 20:00 | | (8-13) | | City gym, Kumamoto |

### Placement matches

| 30 May 13:00 | Spain | 23 – 32 | Iceland | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 30 May 13:00 | | (11-11) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 30 May 15:00 | South Korea | 27 – 28 | Egypt | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 30 May 15:00 | | (11-15) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |

### 7th place match

| 31 May 16:00 | Spain | 33 – 26 | South Korea | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 31 May 16:00 | | (17-12) | | City gym, Kumamoto |

### 5th place match

| 31 May 16:00 | Egypt | 20 – 23 | Iceland | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 31 May 16:00 | | (9-10) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |

### Semi-finals

| 31 May 18:00 | Hungary | 19 – 31 | Sweden | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 31 May 18:00 | | (7-14) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 31 May 18:00 | France | 24 – 25 (ET) | Russia | City gym, Kumamoto |
| 31 May 18:00 | | (12-14) | | City gym, Kumamoto |
| City gym, Kumamoto |||

### Bronze final

| 1 June 14:00 | France | 28 – 27 | Hungary | Park Dome, Kumamoto |
| 1 June 14:00 | | (15-12) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto |

### Final

| 1 June 16:00 | Sweden | 21 – 23 | Russia | Park Dome, Kumamoto Attendance: 11,100 |
| 1 June 16:00 | | (10-11) | | Park Dome, Kumamoto Attendance: 11,100 |
| 1 June 16:00 | | Report | | Park Dome, Kumamoto Attendance: 11,100 |

## Final standings

* Russia
* Sweden
* France
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Egypt
* Spain
* South Korea
* Yugoslavia
* Lithuania
* Czech Republic
* Norway
* Croatia
* Cuba
* Japan
* Tunisia
* Algeria
* Italy
* Portugal
* China
* Saudi Arabia
* Argentina
* Morocco
* Brazil

## Medalists

| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Russia Andrey LavrovPavel SukosyanVasily KudinovVyacheslav GorpishinDmitri TorgovanovStanislav KulinchenkoOleg GrebnevVyacheslav AtavinIgor LavrovOleg KuleshovLev VoroninSergey PogorelovEduard KoksharovValery GopinDenis Krivoshlykov Head coach : Mr. Vladimir Maksimov | Sweden Magnus AnderssonMartin FrändesjöPeter GentzelRobert HedinOla LindgrenStefan LövgrenMats OlssonStaffan OlssonJohan PeterssonTomas SivertssonJan StankiewiczTomas SvenssonPierre ThorssonLjubomir VranjesMagnus Wislander Head coach : Mr. Bengt Johansson | France Christian GaudinBruno MartiniFrancis FranckÉric AmalouPatrick CazalStéphane CordinierGuillaume GilleStéphane JoulinPhilippe JuliaGuéric KervadecBernard LatchimyYannick ReverdyJackson RichardsonStéphane StoecklinMarc WiltbergerSémir Zuzo Head coach : Mr. Daniel Costantini |

## All Star Team

* Goalkeeper: Mats Olsson Sweden
* Left Wing: Valery Gopin Russia
* Left Back: Vasily Kudinov Russia
* Center Back: Talant Duyshebaev Spain
* Pivot: Guéric Kervadec France
* Right Back: Staffan Olsson Sweden
* Right Wing: Valdimar Grímsson Iceland