# 2025 IHF Emerging Nations Championship

The 2025 IHF Emerging Nations Handball Championship was the fifth edition of the IHF Emerging Nations Championship held in Bulgaria under the aegis of International Handball Federation from 11 to 16 March 2025.
Great Britain defeated Bulgaria in the final to capture their first title.

## Participating teams

| Country | Previous appearances |
| Azerbaijan | 3 (2017, 2019, 2023) |
| Bulgaria | 4 (2015, 2017, 2019, 2023) |
| Cyprus | 2 (2017, 2023) |
| Great Britain | 4 (2015, 2017, 2019, 2023) |
| Moldova | 3 (2015, 2017, 2023) |
| Nigeria | 2 (2019, 2023) |
| Paraguay | 0 (debut) |
| United States | 1 (2019) |
    $^1$ Bold indicates champion for that year. Italics indicates host.

## Draw

The draw was held on 28 January 2025 in Oslo.

### Seeding

| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
| United States Cyprus | Bulgaria Azerbaijan | Nigeria Great Britain | Moldova Paraguay |

## Preliminary round

All times are local (UTC+2).

### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Bulgaria (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 104 | 59 | +45 | 6 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Great Britain | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 92 | 85 | +7 | 4 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 75 | 91 | −16 | 2 | 5–8th place semifianls |
| 4 | Cyprus | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 65 | 101 | −36 | 0 | 5–8th place semifianls |
| 11 March 2025 18:30 | Bulgaria | 35–18 | Paraguay | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 350 Referees: Balvan, El-Saied, Cournil |
| 11 March 2025 18:30 | Sv. Dimitrov 12 | (19–10) | Ríos, Viana 4 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 350 Referees: Balvan, El-Saied, Cournil |
| 11 March 2025 18:30 | 3× | Report | 3× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 350 Referees: Balvan, El-Saied, Cournil |
| 11 March 2025 20:45 | Cyprus | 23–37 | Great Britain | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 80 Referees: Lončar, Pagh, Ismoilov |
| 11 March 2025 20:45 | Karkalatos, Paraskeva 6 | (15–20) | Pereira, S. Vellenoweth 7 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 80 Referees: Lončar, Pagh, Ismoilov |
| 11 March 2025 20:45 | 1× 4× | Report | 2× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 80 Referees: Lončar, Pagh, Ismoilov |
| 12 March 2025 18:00 | Bulgaria | 35–22 | Great Britain | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 400 Referees: Lončar, Thygesen, Fabryczny |
| 12 March 2025 18:00 | Sv. Dimitrov 16 | (21–13) | Pereira 5 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 400 Referees: Lončar, Thygesen, Fabryczny |
| 12 March 2025 18:00 | 1× 4× | Report | 4× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 400 Referees: Lončar, Thygesen, Fabryczny |
| 12 March 2025 20:15 | Paraguay | 30–23 | Cyprus | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 20 Referees: Lončar, Pagh, Ismoilov |
| 12 March 2025 20:15 | Rojas 8 | (14–12) | Tartios 6 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 20 Referees: Lončar, Pagh, Ismoilov |
| 12 March 2025 20:15 | 3× 1× | Report | 4× 1× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 20 Referees: Lončar, Pagh, Ismoilov |
| 13 March 2025 18:00 | Cyprus | 19–34 | Bulgaria | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 400 Referees: Prastalo, Rawicki, Ismoilov |
| 13 March 2025 18:00 | Melissas, Tartios 5 | (10–18) | Sv. Dimitrov 10 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 400 Referees: Prastalo, Rawicki, Ismoilov |
| 13 March 2025 18:00 | 2× 1× | Report | 3× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 400 Referees: Prastalo, Rawicki, Ismoilov |
| 13 March 2025 20:15 | Great Britain | 33–27 | Paraguay | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 50 Referees: El-Saied, Lamour, Fabryczny |
| 13 March 2025 20:15 | Pereira 11 | (17–14) | Martínez 8 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 50 Referees: El-Saied, Lamour, Fabryczny |
| 13 March 2025 20:15 | 1× 2× | Report | 3× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 50 Referees: El-Saied, Lamour, Fabryczny |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | United States | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 118 | 79 | +39 | 5 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Nigeria | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 85 | 70 | +15 | 5 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Moldova | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 81 | 88 | −7 | 2 | 5–8th place semifianls |
| 4 | Azerbaijan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 60 | 107 | −47 | 0 | 5–8th place semifianls |
* 1 2 United States 31–31 Nigeria
| 11 March 2025 13:30 | Azerbaijan | 21–33 | Moldova | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 100 Referees: Doychinov, Fabryczny, Ismoilov |
| 11 March 2025 13:30 | Musayev 6 | (8–14) | Ledeniov 7 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 100 Referees: Doychinov, Fabryczny, Ismoilov |
| 11 March 2025 13:30 | 3× | Report | 2× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 100 Referees: Doychinov, Fabryczny, Ismoilov |
| 11 March 2025 15:45 | United States | 31–31 | Nigeria | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 50 Referees: Goretsov, Lončar, Thygesen |
| 11 March 2025 15:45 | Amitovic 10 | (18–12) | Shagari 7 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 50 Referees: Goretsov, Lončar, Thygesen |
| 11 March 2025 15:45 | 1× 4× | Report | 5× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 50 Referees: Goretsov, Lončar, Thygesen |
| 12 March 2025 13:30 | Moldova | 26–42 | United States | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 100 Referees: Cournil, Balvan, Rawicki |
| 12 March 2025 13:30 | Zacaciurin 8 | (14–18) | Donlin 8 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 100 Referees: Cournil, Balvan, Rawicki |
| 12 March 2025 13:30 | 1× 3× | Report | 5× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 100 Referees: Cournil, Balvan, Rawicki |
| 12 March 2025 15:45 | Azerbaijan | 17–29 | Nigeria | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 50 Referees: Prastalo, El-Saied, Lamour |
| 12 March 2025 15:45 | Guliyev 6 | (8–9) | Shagari 7 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 50 Referees: Prastalo, El-Saied, Lamour |
| 12 March 2025 15:45 | 3× | Report | 3× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 50 Referees: Prastalo, El-Saied, Lamour |
| 13 March 2025 13:30 | Nigeria | 25–22 | Moldova | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 60 Referees: Goretsov, Lončar, Thygesen |
| 13 March 2025 13:30 | Yusuf 8 | (14–12) | Baltean 5 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 60 Referees: Goretsov, Lončar, Thygesen |
| 13 March 2025 13:30 | 5× 1× | Report | 2× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 60 Referees: Goretsov, Lončar, Thygesen |
| 13 March 2025 15:45 | United States | 45–25 | Azerbaijan | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 40 Referees: Balvan, Doychinov, El-Saied |
| 13 March 2025 15:45 | Binderis 7 | (19–11) | Mammadli, Mehdiyev 5 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 40 Referees: Balvan, Doychinov, El-Saied |
| 13 March 2025 15:45 | 1× 1× | Report | 2× 9× 1× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 40 Referees: Balvan, Doychinov, El-Saied |

## Knockout stage
### Bracket

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 15 March | 15 March |
| Bulgaria | 30 |
| Bulgaria | 30 | 16 March | 16 March |
| Nigeria | 23 | 16 March | 16 March |
| Nigeria | 23 | Bulgaria | 25 |
| 15 March | 15 March | | Bulgaria | 25 |
| 15 March | 15 March | Great Britain | 29 |
| United States | 25 | Great Britain | 29 |
| Great Britain | 29 | | |
| Great Britain | 29 | Third place | Third place |
| | | 16 March | 16 March |
| | | Nigeria | 28 |
| | | United States | 31 |

#### Fifth place bracket

| 5–8th place semifinals | 5–8th place semifinals | Fifth place game | Fifth place game |
| 15 March | 15 March |
| Paraguay | 34 |
| Paraguay | 34 | 16 March | 16 March |
| Azerbaijan | 22 | 16 March | 16 March |
| Azerbaijan | 22 | Paraguay | 37 |
| 15 March | 15 March | | Paraguay | 37 |
| 15 March | 15 March | Cyprus | 28 |
| Moldova | 23 | Cyprus | 28 |
| Cyprus | 24 | | |
| Cyprus | 24 | Seventh place game | Seventh place game |
| | | 16 March | 16 March |
| | | Azerbaijan | 28 |
| | | Moldova | 29 |

### 5–8th place semifinals

| 15 March 2025 13:00 | Paraguay | 34–22 | Azerbaijan | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 50 Referees: Goretsov, El-Saied, Cournil |
| 15 March 2025 13:00 | Rojas 8 | (14–8) | Nazaraliyev 6 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 50 Referees: Goretsov, El-Saied, Cournil |
| 15 March 2025 13:00 | 1× | Report | 4× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 50 Referees: Goretsov, El-Saied, Cournil |
| 15 March 2025 15:15 | Moldova | 23–24 | Cyprus | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 80 Referees: Doychinov, Lamour, Ismoilov |
| 15 March 2025 15:15 | Caraman 8 | (11–11) | Karkalatos 7 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 80 Referees: Doychinov, Lamour, Ismoilov |
| 15 March 2025 15:15 | 4× 1× | Report | 2× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 80 Referees: Doychinov, Lamour, Ismoilov |

### Semifinals

| 15 March 2025 17:30 | Bulgaria | 30–23 | Nigeria | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 550 Referees: Lončar, El-Saied, Rawicki |
| 15 March 2025 17:30 | Sv. Dimitrov 13 | (15–8) | Yusuf 8 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 550 Referees: Lončar, El-Saied, Rawicki |
| 15 March 2025 17:30 | 5× | Report | 1× 6× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 550 Referees: Lončar, El-Saied, Rawicki |
| 15 March 2025 20:15 | United States | 25–29 | Great Britain | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 60 Referees: Prastalo, Pagh, Ismoilov |
| 15 March 2025 20:15 | Hansen 8 | (14–13) | Pereira 8 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 60 Referees: Prastalo, Pagh, Ismoilov |
| 15 March 2025 20:15 | 1× 6× | Report | 1× 3× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 60 Referees: Prastalo, Pagh, Ismoilov |

### Seventh place game

| 16 March 2025 13:00 | Azerbaijan | 28–29 | Moldova | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 20 Referees: Balvan, Pagh, Ismoilov |
| 16 March 2025 13:00 | Mammadli, Nazaraliyev 7 | (14–20) | Ledeniov 9 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 20 Referees: Balvan, Pagh, Ismoilov |
| 16 March 2025 13:00 | 3× | Report | 4× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 20 Referees: Balvan, Pagh, Ismoilov |

### Fifth place game

| 16 March 2025 15:15 | Paraguay | 37–28 | Cyprus | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 30 Referees: Goretsov, Lončar, El-Saied |
| 16 March 2025 15:15 | Rojas 8 | (17–16) | Hadjipetrou 6 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 30 Referees: Goretsov, Lončar, El-Saied |
| 16 March 2025 15:15 | 4× | Report | | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 30 Referees: Goretsov, Lončar, El-Saied |

### Third place game

| 16 March 2025 17:30 | Nigeria | 28–31 | United States | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 100 Referees: Doychinov, Thygesen, Cournil |
| 16 March 2025 17:30 | Yusuf 13 | (14–19) | Hansen, Stromberg 8 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 100 Referees: Doychinov, Thygesen, Cournil |
| 16 March 2025 17:30 | 1× 2× | Report | 1× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 100 Referees: Doychinov, Thygesen, Cournil |

### Final

| 16 March 2025 20:15 | Bulgaria | 25–29 | Great Britain | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 1,000 Referees: El-Saied, Fabryczny, Ismoilov |
| 16 March 2025 20:15 | Vasilev 7 | (13–15) | Pereira 7 | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 1,000 Referees: El-Saied, Fabryczny, Ismoilov |
| 16 March 2025 20:15 | 2× 4× 1× | Report | 2× 4× | Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna Attendance: 1,000 Referees: El-Saied, Fabryczny, Ismoilov |

## Final ranking

| Rank | Team |
| | Great Britain |
| | Bulgaria |
| | United States |
| 4 | Nigeria |
| 5 | Paraguay |
| 6 | Cyprus |
| 7 | Moldova |
| 8 | Azerbaijan |

## All-Star Team

The all-star team and awards was announced on 16 March 2025.
| Position | Player |
| Goalkeeper | Nikolay Petrov |
| Right wing | Gary Phillips |
| Right back | Francisco Pereira |
| Centre back | Kristian Vasilev |
| Left back | Sebastian Vellenoweth |
| Left wing | Louis Christy |
| Pivot | Andrew Donlin |
| Best defender | Andrew Donlin |
| Most valuable player | Svetlin Dimitrov |