Asian Championship 2026/27

The Asian Men’s Handball Championship is the primary senior men’s national team championship for Asia, organized by the Asian Handball Federation (AHF). The tournament is held biennially, serving as the direct qualification route for the IHF World Men’s Handball Championship; in the 2024 edition, the top four teams secured places at the 2025 World Championship. Since 2018, the competition has expanded beyond Asia, inviting teams from Oceania such as Australia and New Zealand to enhance competitive depth. This inclusion distinguishes the senior event from the Junior and Youth championships, which exclude these nations. The format utilises a preliminary group stage followed by a main round and a knockout phase comprising semifinals and finals. Recent editions have featured between 15 and 16 teams. Qatar stands as the most successful nation with six titles, including a streak of six consecutive wins from 2014 to 2024. South Korea follows with nine titles. Japan claimed the first two editions in 1977 and 1979, while Kuwait won four titles between 1995 and 2006. Qatar currently holds the title after defeating Japan 30–24 in the 2024 final held in Bahrain. The next edition is scheduled for 2026 in Kuwait. The AHF, established in 1974, oversees the event. The inaugural tournament took place in Kuwait City in 1977. The competition operates independently from the Asian Women’s Handball Championship, which generally attracts fewer participants despite also including Oceania teams. There is no formal promotion or relegation system linking the senior championship to junior tiers, as these remain distinct age-group competitions. The competition does not carry a widely documented title sponsor in its official name, though entities like Molten Corporation and SK Group are associated with the federation.