The first day of the 2018 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship in Kazan, Russia sees all 16 nations play twice throughout the day, with some big clashes and small pieces of history made.

- Spain open their tile defence against debutants Greece
- Vietnam make world championship debut against Women’s EHF EURO champions Norway
- Clash of the first-timers sees Paraguay and Greece clash
- The French and Mexicans step onto the global stage, against Poland and Denmark respectively
- Wild Card entrants and newcomers USA go up against Thailand in their opener

2018 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship

Preliminary Round – Day 1

After defeating the formerly all-conquering Brazilians in a shootout at Budapest 2016, Spain went on to pick up bronze medals at the 2017 EHF Women’s European Championship and 2017 World Games. That impressive 12 months will look to be extended to 24 months as Daniel Lara’s side hope to defend that hard-fought title in Hungary.

In what is a match of two extremes, Greece are appearing at their first-ever beach handball world championship thanks to a sixth-place finish at the 2017 EHF EURO. In the midday sun of Kazan, they will be looking to get off the mark with a win but face an extremely tough challenge against the Spanish.

Group A

With two debutants in the group there is little history between the teams in group A with all match-ups on the opening day the first time the teams have ever met in a senior world championship.

At the same time as Spain against Greece, Paraguay also make their world championship debut, against the Australians, who ended their Budapest 2016 campaign with two wins and then made the quarter-finals at the 2017 World Games.

The afternoon session sees Australia play Greece and Spain take on their second world championship debutants of the day in Paraguay.

Matches (all times local)

12:20 ESP-GRE
12:20 AUS-PAR
16:30 GRE-AUS
17:20 PAR-ESP

Group B

Chinese Taipei and Uruguay open group B in the early afternoon in a clash which has seen them meet at the same stage in the past two world championships. With a win for each nation, this match is likely to be a tight affair.

Following the opening match of the group, France make their long-awaited debut at a world championship – against Poland – after accepting an invitation to take part after Africa failed to organise a continental qualification event.

The French then face Uruguay in the afternoon session while Poland play Chinese Taipei again in the preliminary round after the Asian side beat the European 2-1 at Budapest 2016.

Matches (all times local)

12:20 URU-TPE
13:10 POL-FRA
17:20 FRA-URU
20:20 TPE-POL

Group C

2016 runners-up Brazil open their campaign to regain their title lost two years ago against the hosts in the morning match – the first time the two teams have met in a world championship for 12 years, after Brazil took a 2-0 win back in 2006. Thailand then face a USA side who will be super-motivated to start with a win in their first-ever world championship appearance.

The afternoon session sees a Pan-American clash between USA and Brazil before Russia play Thailand.

Matches (all times local)

10:40 BRA-RUS
10:40 THA-USA
15:40 USA-BRA
17:20 RUS-THA

Group D
A real mixed group, group D features two debutant teams, a team returning to action on a global stage after being away and one of the best women’s teams in the world – Norway.

The Norwegians - current EHF European champions and three consecutive bronze medals in the last three world championships – play Vietnam in their early-morning game as the Asian side take part in their first-ever world championship.

Mexico then make their debut, against Denmark, returning to action since 2014 and the Danes start the afternoon session with a match against Vietnam, followed by Norway vs Denmark.

Matches (all times local)

09:00 NOR-VIE
09:50 DEN-MEX
14:50 VIE-DEN
14:50 MEX-NOR