The format for the women’s competition stays the same compared to last year, with 16 teams divided into four groups with four teams. The men’s competition has also adopted this format, after only 15 teams took part in 2023.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the main round, which consists of two groups of six teams. From there, the top four teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.
Danish teams are the title holders in both competitions. In the men’s category, Rødby Beach Boys return to Porto Santo, trying to add a second consecutive trophy to their collection. But they are not the only ones eyeing the gold.
Portuguese side Escola de Formação de Espinho - Os Tigres / LEVEL, for example, showed their ambitions and quality by winning this year’s ebt Finals. Meanwhile, 12Monkeys Köln from Germany beat the reigning champions in the main round last year and yet left Portugal without a medal.
In total, 10 nations will be represented in the men’s category at the Beach Handball Champions Cup 2024, with the host country having the most clubs in the competition — three.
The current title holders in the women’s category, The Danish Beachhandball Dream, will start this year’s journey in group A, alongside AD IA Sports from Portugal, Poland’s BHT Conkret Byczki Kowalewo Pomorskie and Hungarian side Red Velvet BHC.
As last year’s silver and bronze medalists will not take part in the competition this year, hopes are high for Spanish side CATS A.M. Team Almeria to take a medal, after missing out in 2023, when they placed fourth. Almeria have reached the semi-finals in the previous four editions and won the title in 2019.
The 16 participants in the women’s category come from 11 different countries, with Germany, Denmark, Hungary, and Portugal the only ones with multiple entries.
The matches from all courts will be streamed live on EHFTV, with tournament and day passes available.
Fans can also play an active role in the naming of the two All-star Teams — one for each gender. Three categories will be open for voting: Goalkeeper, defender, and MVP. All details on how to take part in the vote will be announced in due time. Check out the EHF Beach Handball social media channels over the next few days.
The players nominated for the All-star Teams at the EHF Beach Handball Champions Cup will join those nominated at the ebt Finals 2024 earlier in the summer in the race for the EHF Excellence Awards 2023/24 MVP title in beach handball, with the winners to be honoured at the Awards in December.
