The IHF Council Meeting in Herzogenaurach (GER) on 21 November had to deal with the withdrawal of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates from the 2015 Men's World Championship.

The IHF Council considered that the two letters of withdrawal were final and, as a consequence did not consider any further correspondence from these two National Federations.

The IHF Council decided to impose a financial fine of CHF 100,000 on each of the two National Federations for withdrawal after the championship draw.

The IHF Council, confronted with the issue of determining substitute nations, decided on awarding the free positions to the continents of Asia and Europe.

On the basis of continental results the Asian Handball Federation nominated the team of Saudi Arabia and the European Handball Federation nominated Iceland as participants in the 2015 Men's World Championship in Qatar.

The teams of Iceland and Saudi Arabia were drawn by the COC Chairman in front of the IHF Council to group C (ISL) and group D (KSA) respectively on the positions of the two teams who had withdrawn.