With the completion of the 2018 EHF Women’s European Championship and subsequent European Qualification draw, the 2018 CAHB Women’s African Championship and the 2018 AHF Women’s Asian championship this month, further information is now known about the teams who have qualified through the 24th IHF Women’s World Championship, to be held in Kumamoto, Japan, in November and December 2019.

 

France won the 2018 Women’s EHF EURO on home soil, beating Russia in the final, with Netherlands claiming bronze, after the Dutch beat Romania in the 3/4 placement match. The results mean that, with France already qualifying through to Japan 2019 as world champions, Russia, Netherlands and Romania go through.

 

The final nine continental places for Europe will be decided in early June, following the draw for Qualification Europe – Play-Offs at the closing press conference of the 2018 Women’s EHF EURO. 18 teams will take part in ties over two legs, played on 31 May-2 June and 4-6 June 2019.

 

In Africa, Angola beat Senegal in the final to claim gold but, crucially, DR Congo defeated Cameroon in the bronze match to not only claim a medal, but the third and final African continental place at Japan.

 

Used as a test event for Japan 2019, the 2018 AHF Women’s Asian Championship took place in Kumamoto with Korea again beating Japan in the final to win the continental title.

 

The top four places in the tournament meant a direct ticket to Japan 2019, but with the hosts finishing second, and already qualified as hosts, the 5/6 placement match would prove to be crucial.

 

Eventually, Australia overcame Iran to take the fifth-place spot behind Korea, China and Kazakhstan, who qualified in the top four places, discounting Japan.

 

List of qualified nations for Japan 2019

 

Nation Qualification Method

Japan (JPN) Host Country

France (FRA) Title-holders

Korea (KOR) AHF Women’s Asian Championship – Winners

China (CHN) AHF Women’s Asian Championship – Third Place

Kazakhstan (KAZ) AHF Women’s Asian Championship – Fourth Place

Australia (AUS) AHF Women’s Asian Championship – Fifth Place (JPN 2nd)

Angola (ANG) CAHB Women’s African Championship – Winners

Senegal (SEN) CAHB Women’s African Championship – Second Place

DR Congo (COD) CAHB Women’s African Championship – Third Place

Russia (RUS) EHF Women’s European Championship – Second Place

Netherlands (NED) EHF Women’s European Championship – Third Place

Romania (ROU) EHF Women’s European Championship – Fourth Place (FRA 1st)

Brazil (BRA) South and Central American Championship – Winners

Argentina (ARG) South and Central American Championship – Second Place

 

Spot 15 To be confirmed in May: North and Central American Championship – Winners

Spots 16-24 European Qualification – May/June 2019: CRO, GER, DEN, SUI, SWE, SVK, BLR, NOR, SRB, POL, CZE, MNE, MKD, SLO, AUT, HUN, ESP and ISL

 

All information correct as of Wednesday, 19 December. For further information about Japan 2019, visit https://japanhandball2019.com/en/.