FI

Friendly International

World · Handball

Season 2025

Friendly International — Today's Matches

Live scores, upcoming kick-offs, and finished results for today. Data refreshes automatically so you never miss a moment.

Friendly International — Standings

Current Friendly International 2025 standings with 50 teams. Romania leads the table with 13 points after 9 matches, followed by Spain on 12 points. The table shows wins, losses, scoring, and win percentage — essential for pre-match betting analysis.

#Team
1
RRomania
Played: 9Won: 4Lost: 4Goal Diff: +3
2
SSpain
Played: 5Won: 4Lost: 1Goal Diff: +21
3
GGeorgia
Played: 6Won: 4Lost: 2Goal Diff: -2
4
FFrance
Played: 3Won: 3Lost: 0Goal Diff: +25
5
PPoland
Played: 4Won: 3Lost: 1Goal Diff: +21
6
GGermany
Played: 4Won: 3Lost: 1Goal Diff: +18
7
EEgypt
Played: 5Won: 3Lost: 2Goal Diff: +15
8
HUHungary U19
Played: 3Won: 3Lost: 0Goal Diff: +15
9
CCroatia
Played: 4Won: 3Lost: 1Goal Diff: +11
10
SSwitzerland
Played: 5Won: 3Lost: 2Goal Diff: +8
11
JJapan
Played: 4Won: 3Lost: 1Goal Diff: +2
12
SSerbia
Played: 6Won: 2Lost: 2Goal Diff: +9
13
HHungary
Played: 3Won: 2Lost: 0Goal Diff: +9
14
SSweden
Played: 4Won: 2Lost: 1Goal Diff: +1
15
DDenmark
Played: 2Won: 2Lost: 0Goal Diff: +35
16
BBrazil
Played: 4Won: 2Lost: 2Goal Diff: +18
17
NNetherlands
Played: 3Won: 2Lost: 1Goal Diff: +16
18
NNorway
Played: 3Won: 2Lost: 1Goal Diff: +13
19
SSlovenia
Played: 3Won: 2Lost: 1Goal Diff: +1
20
PPortugal
Played: 4Won: 2Lost: 2Goal Diff: -6
21
AArgentina
Played: 5Won: 2Lost: 3Goal Diff: -10
22
IItaly
Played: 4Won: 2Lost: 2Goal Diff: -10
23
MMontenegro
Played: 2Won: 1Lost: 0Goal Diff: +4
24
IIceland
Played: 4Won: 1Lost: 2Goal Diff: -11
25
CChile
Played: 2Won: 1Lost: 1Goal Diff: +13
26
RRussia
Played: 2Won: 1Lost: 1Goal Diff: +11
27
BBelarus
Played: 1Won: 1Lost: 0Goal Diff: +6
28
PUPortugal U21
Played: 1Won: 1Lost: 0Goal Diff: +4
29
AUAustria U20
Played: 1Won: 1Lost: 0Goal Diff: +1
30
SASaudi Arabia
Played: 1Won: 1Lost: 0Goal Diff: +1
31
UUkraine
Played: 3Won: 1Lost: 2Goal Diff: 0
32
FUFrance U19
Played: 3Won: 1Lost: 2Goal Diff: -4
33
PUPortugal U19
Played: 3Won: 1Lost: 2Goal Diff: -5
34
SUSweden U19
Played: 3Won: 1Lost: 2Goal Diff: -6
35
CRCzech Republic
Played: 3Won: 1Lost: 2Goal Diff: -9
36
AAustria
Played: 4Won: 1Lost: 3Goal Diff: -15
37
SSlovakia
Played: 6Won: 1Lost: 5Goal Diff: -33
38
GUGermany U21
Played: 1Won: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: 0
39
SUSpain U21
Played: 1Won: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: 0
40
BBelgium
Played: 2Won: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: -4
41
RURomania U20
Played: 1Won: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: -1
42
NMNorth Macedonia
Played: 2Won: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -3
43
FUFrance U21
Played: 1Won: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: -4
44
QQatar
Played: 2Won: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -9
45
TTunisia
Played: 3Won: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -12
46
IIraq
Played: 1Won: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: -17
47
TTurkey
Played: 3Won: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -19
48
KKosovo
Played: 3Won: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -25
49
BBahrain
Played: 2Won: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -35
50
MMexico
Played: 2Won: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -41

Friendly International — Results

The latest 25 completed matches in the Friendly International. The highest-scoring result was France 44–38 Portugal. Review recent scorelines to spot form trends, home advantage patterns, and upset results that can inform your next bet.

HomeScoreAway
25 – 26
QatarQ
25 – 26
SASaudi Arabia
2025-12-15FT
29 – 31
GermanyG
29 – 31
IIceland
2025-11-02FT
33 – 25
RomaniaR
33 – 25
SSlovakia
2025-11-02FT
28 – 32
GeorgiaG
28 – 32
UUkraine
2025-11-02FT
34 – 28
BelarusB
34 – 28
RRussia
2025-11-02FT
24 – 29
France U19FU
24 – 29
SUSweden U19
2025-11-01FT
38 – 28
FranceF
38 – 28
IItaly
2025-11-01FT
30 – 28
SwitzerlandS
30 – 28
CCroatia
2025-11-01FT
27 – 27
MontenegroM
27 – 27
BBelgium
2025-11-01FT
32 – 36
Portugal U19PU
32 – 36
HUHungary U19
2025-11-01FT
27 – 31
AustriaA
27 – 31
HHungary
2025-11-01FT
34 – 31
SwedenS
34 – 31
SSpain
2025-11-01FT
30 – 27
PortugalP
30 – 27
EEgypt
2025-11-01FT
27 – 30
RomaniaR
27 – 30
GGeorgia
2025-11-01FT
31 – 32
North MacedoniaNM
31 – 32
JJapan
2025-11-01FT
31 – 32
UkraineU
31 – 32
SSlovakia
2025-11-01FT
26 – 24
ArgentinaA
26 – 24
CChile
2025-11-01FT
46 – 20
BrazilB
46 – 20
MMexico
2025-10-31FT
29 – 24
France U19FU
29 – 24
PUPortugal U19
2025-10-31FT
29 – 30
PolandP
29 – 30
CRCzech Republic
2025-10-31FT
31 – 24
Hungary U19HU
31 – 24
SUSweden U19
2025-10-31FT
34 – 35
SerbiaS
34 – 35
SSlovenia
2025-10-31FT
34 – 30
MontenegroM
34 – 30
BBelgium
2025-10-31FT
28 – 29
Romania U20RU
28 – 29
AUAustria U20
2025-10-31FT
33 – 30
RomaniaR
33 – 30
UUkraine
2025-10-31FT
View all match results→

Friendly International — Team Stats

Side-by-side performance comparison of all 50 teams in the Friendly International. Romania leads with 4 wins this season. The colour-coded heatmap highlights wins, losses, scoring, scoring difference, and win percentage — making it easy to spot the strongest and weakest teams at a glance for betting analysis.

Friendly International — Betting Insights

Friendly International 2025 — key betting statistics across 78 matches played. Games average 60.01 combined scoring. Home sides win 56.4% of the time and the most common scoreline is 31-31. Use these metrics to calibrate your betting strategies.

60.01Scoring / Match
100.0%Both Score %
56.4%Home Win %
37.2%Away Win %
0.0%Clean Sheet %
+23.10Home Advantage

Friendly International — Season Trends

Season-by-season comparison across 2 seasons of the Friendly International, with 2025 highlighted. The current season averages 60.01 combined scoring per match across 78 matches played. Columns cover home win % and away win % — use year-on-year trends to spot if the league is becoming higher or lower scoring and calibrate your betting strategy accordingly.

Rows highlighted in blue = current season

Top Scoring Teams

50 teams in the Friendly International 2025 season ranked by wins. Romania leads with 4 wins. Their 4-season average is 2.5 wins per season. Georgia shows the biggest improvement this season with 4 more wins than their past average. Compare current form against historical averages to spot rising and declining teams — useful for match result and outright winner betting.

1RRomania4Won
Played9Lost4Goals For280Goals Against277Avg W2.5Avg L2.0
2SSpain4Won
Played5Lost1Goals For164Goals Against143Avg W3.6Avg L0.8
3GGeorgia4Won
Played6Lost2Goals For181Goals Against183Avg W0.3Avg L1.3
4FFrance3Won
Played3Lost0Goals For119Goals Against94Avg W2.6Avg L0.8
5PPoland3Won
Played4Lost1Goals For123Goals Against102Avg W2.2Avg L3.2
6GGermany3Won
Played4Lost1Goals For131Goals Against113Avg W2.8Avg L0.8
7EEgypt3Won
Played5Lost2Goals For160Goals Against145Avg W2.0Avg L2.0
8HUHungary U193Won
Played3Lost0Goals For104Goals Against89Avg W3.0Avg L1.0
9CCroatia3Won
Played4Lost1Goals For117Goals Against106Avg W1.8Avg L0.6
10SSwitzerland3Won
Played5Lost2Goals For153Goals Against145Avg W2.0Avg L1.6
11JJapan3Won
Played4Lost1Goals For123Goals Against121Avg W0.5Avg L3.3
12SSerbia2Won
Played6Lost2Goals For189Goals Against180Avg W1.8Avg L1.5
13HHungary2Won
Played3Lost0Goals For90Goals Against81Avg W1.4Avg L0.8
14SSweden2Won
Played4Lost1Goals For121Goals Against120Avg W2.4Avg L0.6
15DDenmark2Won
Played2Lost0Goals For72Goals Against37Avg W2.4Avg L0.4
16BBrazil2Won
Played4Lost2Goals For127Goals Against109Avg W0.7Avg L2.0
17NNetherlands2Won
Played3Lost1Goals For100Goals Against84Avg W0.2Avg L2.0
18NNorway2Won
Played3Lost1Goals For101Goals Against88Avg W1.5Avg L0.5
19SSlovenia2Won
Played3Lost1Goals For98Goals Against97Avg W1.3Avg L1.8
20PPortugal2Won
Played4Lost2Goals For128Goals Against134Avg W1.8Avg L2.0
21AArgentina2Won
Played5Lost3Goals For133Goals Against143Avg W1.0Avg L4.0
22IItaly2Won
Played4Lost2Goals For113Goals Against123Avg W1.0Avg L2.0
23MMontenegro1Won
Played2Lost0Goals For61Goals Against57Avg W1.5Avg L1.3
24IIceland1Won
Played4Lost2Goals For117Goals Against128Avg W2.3Avg L0.7
25CChile1Won
Played2Lost1Goals For60Goals Against47Avg W0.0Avg L1.0
26RRussia1Won
Played2Lost1Goals For65Goals Against54Avg W1.0Avg L1.4
27BBelarus1Won
Played1Lost0Goals For34Goals Against28Avg W2.0Avg L0.5
28PUPortugal U211Won
Played1Lost0Goals For34Goals Against30Avg W1.0Avg L1.0
29AUAustria U201Won
Played1Lost0Goals For29Goals Against28Avg W—Avg L—
30SASaudi Arabia1Won
Played1Lost0Goals For26Goals Against25Avg W1.0Avg L2.3
31UUkraine1Won
Played3Lost2Goals For93Goals Against93Avg W0.0Avg L1.0
32FUFrance U191Won
Played3Lost2Goals For86Goals Against90Avg W3.0Avg L2.0
33PUPortugal U191Won
Played3Lost2Goals For86Goals Against91Avg W5.0Avg L1.0
34SUSweden U191Won
Played3Lost2Goals For79Goals Against85Avg W3.0Avg L0.0
35CRCzech Republic1Won
Played3Lost2Goals For89Goals Against98Avg W1.5Avg L0.8
36AAustria1Won
Played4Lost3Goals For105Goals Against120Avg W1.8Avg L1.3
37SSlovakia1Won
Played6Lost5Goals For165Goals Against198Avg W1.0Avg L2.0
38GUGermany U210Won
Played1Lost0Goals For29Goals Against29Avg W1.5Avg L0.0
39SUSpain U210Won
Played1Lost0Goals For29Goals Against29Avg W1.0Avg L1.0
40BBelgium0Won
Played2Lost1Goals For57Goals Against61Avg W0.7Avg L1.7
41RURomania U200Won
Played1Lost1Goals For28Goals Against29Avg W—Avg L—
42NMNorth Macedonia0Won
Played2Lost2Goals For56Goals Against59Avg W1.8Avg L1.0
43FUFrance U210Won
Played1Lost1Goals For30Goals Against34Avg W1.0Avg L1.5
44QQatar0Won
Played2Lost2Goals For55Goals Against64Avg W1.5Avg L0.5
45TTunisia0Won
Played3Lost3Goals For87Goals Against99Avg W3.4Avg L0.6
46IIraq0Won
Played1Lost1Goals For20Goals Against37Avg W0.0Avg L1.0
47TTurkey0Won
Played3Lost3Goals For83Goals Against102Avg W0.0Avg L2.0
48KKosovo0Won
Played3Lost3Goals For73Goals Against98Avg W—Avg L—
49BBahrain0Won
Played2Lost2Goals For37Goals Against72Avg W0.5Avg L1.5
50MMexico0Won
Played2Lost2Goals For41Goals Against82Avg W—Avg L—

Friendly International — Past Seasons

Browse 8 archived seasons of the Friendly International, from 2022 to 2026. Each season page includes full standings, top scorers, and match results — useful for comparing historical performance and identifying long-term betting patterns.

History 19 Mar 2026

0

Friendly International matches have been a cornerstone of international handball since the sport's formalization in the mid-20th century. Unlike official tournaments governed by fixed schedules and qualification criteria, friendly matches emerged organically as national federations sought preparation opportunities outside the rigid structure of world championships and continental championships. The format gained prominence particularly during international weeks when the club calendar pauses, enabling national team coaches to conduct intensive preparation blocks. These fixtures have evolved to serve multiple purposes: tactical experimentation, player development across all age groups (U19, U21, senior), recovery from injuries, and confidence building before major tournaments. The accessibility of friendly matches has made them integral to the international handball calendar, with dozens of fixtures occurring annually across multiple continents and age categories. Modern friendly international handball reflects the sport's global expansion, with emerging nations from Asia, Africa, and the Americas increasingly participating alongside traditional powerhouses from Europe.

  • —1946 — International handball federation established, formalizing the need for competitive international fixtures including friendlies
  • —1954 — First Men's World Championship held, establishing the official tournament structure that friendly matches began supporting
  • —2000 — International weeks formalized in the calendar, creating dedicated periods for friendly matches across multiple competitions
  • —2025 — Denmark completed fourth consecutive world championship title, demonstrating the importance of friendly preparation in maintaining dominance

Competition Format 19 Mar 2026

Teams50

Friendly International matches operate outside the formal tournament structure, with each fixture serving as a standalone competition between two national teams. Matches follow standard handball rules: 60 minutes of play (two 30-minute halves), with three points awarded for a win and one point for a draw (though draws are rare in competitive preparation). Teams range from the world's elite nations (Denmark, France, Germany) to emerging handball nations and youth development squads (U19, U21 categories). The format permits unlimited participation and flexible scheduling, allowing federations to arrange fixtures based on strategic preparation needs. No relegation or promotion exists within friendly international matches, as the format exists purely for preparation and competitive testing. Matches are tracked across multiple platforms for statistical and analytical purposes, providing valuable data on team form, player performance, and tactical development leading into major tournaments.

Records 19 Mar 2026

All-time top scorerNikola Karabatić (289 international goals)

France holds the strongest historical record in friendly international matches across recent years, with Denmark and Spain also maintaining exceptional win rates in preparation fixtures.

Analysis 19 Mar 2026

Current Season Analysis

The 2025/26 Friendly International season reflects the competitive landscape following Denmark's historic fourth consecutive world championship victory in February 2025. France continues to establish itself as the primary challenger to Danish dominance, with consistent high-scoring performances in recent friendlies demonstrating the depth of their squad development. The French team's comprehensive approach—with nearly all outfield players contributing goals in recent matches—signals strong preparation for upcoming major tournaments. Germany and Spain maintain competitive parity with traditional rivals, both nations utilizing friendly fixtures to integrate younger players into senior competition structures and test defensive systems ahead of the 2026 EHF European Championship.

The relegation-free format of Friendly International matches creates unpredictable outcomes that make preparation fixtures particularly engaging for analytical observers. Recent results showcase competitive intensity across multiple tiers: Hungary demonstrated resilience with victories over Austria (31–27), while Sweden maintained their Nordic rivalry dominance against Spain (34–31). The inclusion of youth development squads (U19 and U21 categories) reveals emerging talent trajectories, with France U19 competing against established youth programs like Sweden U19, providing early indicators of future senior team competitiveness.

Standout performers in the 2025/26 season include Romania, which delivered dominant performances against Slovakia (33–25), establishing itself as a consistent mid-tier power capable of challenging traditional European hierarchies. The friendly format permits such nations to test themselves against elite opposition without tournament pressure, accelerating development cycles. Belgium and Montenegro have demonstrated improved cohesion in recent fixtures, suggesting potential upward trajectory in major tournament performance. The competitive balance across friendly matches—with numerous close encounters and occasional upset victories—reflects the globalization of handball and the closing skill gap between established and emerging nations.

The Strategic Importance of Friendly International Matches in Modern Handball

Friendly International matches serve as critical strategic tools for national team development in contemporary handball. Unlike club competitions where results directly impact league standings and relegation stakes, friendly fixtures allow coaches unprecedented latitude in tactical experimentation. Teams routinely rotate entire squads across friendly matches, testing different defensive systems, transition plays, and goalkeeper rotation strategies that would be too risky in official tournament contexts. This experimental freedom has become essential in modern handball, where tactical innovation—particularly in defensive organization and transition efficiency—separates championship contenders from mid-tier nations.

The data-driven approach to friendly matches has intensified significantly in recent years. National federations now employ sophisticated performance analysis systems that track individual player metrics across friendly fixtures: shot efficiency, defensive positioning, transition speed, and injury risk indicators. Denmark's systematic approach to friendly match preparation exemplifies this trend; their coaching staff utilizes preparation fixtures not merely for competition but as controlled laboratory environments for implementing new tactical concepts before deploying them in official tournaments. The fourth consecutive world championship in 2025 resulted directly from this methodology—Denmark's friendly match performance in the months preceding the championship provided quantifiable evidence of tactical superiority and squad cohesion.

Youth Development Through Friendly International Competition

The inclusion of U19 and U21 squads in the Friendly International framework has revolutionized talent development pathways in international handball. France U19 and Sweden U19 regularly compete in friendly fixtures, providing young players with exposure to elite-level competition outside the pressure-cooker environment of official youth world championships. This graduated approach—where talented adolescents gain experience in friendly matches before progressing to youth championships—has demonstrably improved the quality of senior national teams. Players who compete extensively in friendly international matches during their development years show superior adaptation rates when transitioning to senior competition, with enhanced tactical awareness and psychological resilience.

The friendly format permits coaches to identify emerging talent without the consequences of official tournament elimination. A young player performing exceptionally in friendly matches receives extended opportunities to develop before facing the high-stakes environment of world championships or Olympic qualification. This developmental philosophy has proven particularly effective for nations investing in long-term competitive cycles: Spain, Germany, and France all maintain robust U19/U21 friendly match programs that directly correlate with sustained senior team competitiveness. The 2025/26 season demonstrates this principle in action—nations utilizing friendly matches extensively for youth development are now showing improved senior team performance in major tournaments.

Geographic Expansion and Competitive Globalization

Friendly International matches increasingly feature non-European nations, reflecting handball's global expansion trajectory. Teams from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Brazil, Japan, and Argentina now regularly participate in friendly fixtures against established European powers. These matches serve dual purposes: they provide emerging handball nations with invaluable experience against world-class opposition while simultaneously exposing traditional powerhouses to different tactical approaches and playing styles. Qatar's recent friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and other regional opponents indicate the region's growing handball infrastructure and competitive ambitions.

The inclusion of emerging nations in friendly international competition accelerates the globalization process that has characterized handball's development over the past two decades. Where international handball was historically dominated by a narrow group of European nations, the 2025/26 friendly season demonstrates competitive participation across six continents. This geographic expansion creates betting market opportunities and engagement possibilities for global audiences, as emerging nations occasionally produce upset victories against traditional powers. The competitive gap between elite and emerging nations continues to narrow, a trend directly attributable to increased friendly match exposure and the knowledge transfer that accompanies competitive international fixtures.

Betting Market Dynamics in Friendly International Matches

Friendly International matches present unique betting opportunities due to their inherent unpredictability compared to official tournaments. Bookmakers struggle to accurately price friendly fixtures because teams employ radically different squad compositions and tactical approaches compared to official competition. A nation might field its entire reserve team in a friendly match, dramatically altering expected performance levels compared to world championship lineups. This information asymmetry—where coaches possess detailed knowledge of squad deployment that bettors cannot reliably predict—creates volatile odds and significant value opportunities for sophisticated bettors.

The absence of relegation stakes and official ranking implications means friendly matches sometimes feature unexpected squad rotations or tactical experiments that defy conventional prediction models. France's recent friendly victory over Italy (38–28) reflected comprehensive squad depth, with nearly all players contributing goals—a performance pattern that would be unusual in official tournament contexts where squad selection typically emphasizes established starting lineups. Conversely, some nations field near-championship squads in friendly matches when preparing for imminent major tournaments, creating -heavy favorites that offer limited value. Understanding the strategic context of each friendly match—which major tournament preparations are underway, which nations are utilizing matches for youth development, and which coaches are experimenting tactically—becomes essential for informed betting decisions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are Friendly International handball matches?

Friendly International matches are non-competitive preparation fixtures between national handball teams, held outside official tournaments. They allow teams to experiment with tactics, develop players, and maintain fitness between major competitions like the World Championship and Olympic Games.

How many teams participate in Friendly International matches?

Over 50 national teams participate in Friendly International matches, including elite nations (Denmark, France, Germany), emerging handball nations, and youth development squads across U19, U21, and senior categories.

When are Friendly International matches typically scheduled?

Friendly International matches are primarily scheduled during designated international weeks in the handball calendar, when club competitions pause. These typically occur in November, January, and March, allowing coaches to conduct intensive preparation blocks.

How do Friendly International matches differ from official tournaments?

Unlike official tournaments with fixed schedules and qualification criteria, friendly matches are arranged flexibly between national federations for preparation purposes. They carry no ranking implications and allow unrestricted tactical experimentation and squad rotation.

Which nations dominate Friendly International matches?

Denmark, France, Germany, Spain, Norway, and Sweden consistently achieve high win rates in friendly matches, reflecting their status as world handball powers. These nations use friendly fixtures as part of systematic preparation for major tournaments.

How are Friendly International match results tracked?

Results are tracked through official IHF records, national federation databases, and sports statistics platforms like Flashscore and Handball Stats 247. While not forming an official ranking, these records provide valuable analysis of team form and player performance.

API data: 1 May 2026 · Stats updated: 21 Apr 2026 · Content updated: 19 Mar 2026