The discipline
Handball originated in Europe in the late 19th century as an outdoor sport played on grass fields.
It was first included in the Olympic Games in 1936 and reintroduced in 1972 as an indoor event.
Modern handball is a fast-paced, high-scoring game played by two teams of seven players each on a 40×20-meter indoor court.
At the Games
Handball has featured in three previous editions of the Islamic Solidarity Games and continues to be part of the program at Riyadh 2025.
Entry
IHF will provide a ranking of member teams, with the top seven ranked men’s/women’s teams invited.
If an NOC cannot participate, the next best team is invited.
The host country automatically receives one men’s team slot and one women’s team slot. Registered athletes must comply with the IHF regulations and player eligibility code.
