27 clubs registered for EHF Champions League Men 2026/27

The European Handball Federation (EHF) announced 27 teams have registered for the 2026/27 EHF Champions League Men. The competition is expanding to a 24-team format consisting of six groups of four teams for the group phase. Official decisions on participant upgrades will be released on Monday, June 22.

How many teams will compete in the 2026/27 season?

The EHF is expanding the playing system to a total of 24 teams. According to the federation, these teams will be divided into six groups of four for the group phase.

The EHF limits the number of teams per federation to a maximum of three. All participating teams must fulfill mandatory minimum requirements to compete.

Did You Know? The 10 nations with fixed places in the competition are ranked based on their results from the 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25 seasons.

Which teams have registered and requested upgrades?

Of the 27 registered teams, 21 come from countries with fixed places. These nations include Germany, Spain, France, Denmark, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Portugal, Croatia, and Norway. Champions from these 10 nations are guaranteed a spot.

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MT Melsungen of Germany has also earned a place by winning the EHF European League Men 2025/26. Other teams must seek upgrades to fill the remaining slots.

Ten teams from seven of the fixed-place countries have applied for upgrade requests from the EHF European League. Additionally, six teams from countries without a fixed place have registered and applied for upgrades.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the competition between the 16 teams requesting upgrades for only a handful of remaining spots creates a high-stakes evaluation process. The limit of three teams per federation means some high-ranking nations may see their upgrade requests denied regardless of team quality.

Registered teams from fixed-place countries

HC Zagreb (CRO)
Aalborg Håndbold (DEN)
Barça (ESP)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
SC Magdeburg (GER)
One Veszprém HC (HUN)
Kolstad Handball (NOR)
Industria Kielce (POL)
Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)
CS Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU)

Teams requesting upgrades

From fixed-place countries: SAH Aarhus (DEN), GOG (DEN), HBC Nantes (FRA), Montpellier Handball (FRA), Füchse Berlin (GER), OTP Bank – PICK Szeged (HUN), MOL Tatabánya KC (HUN), Elverum Håndball (NOR), Orlen Wisla Plock (POL), and FC Porto (POR).

Select Ball EHF Champions League 2025/2026 | Celebrating a decade of excellence

From non-fixed-place countries: Valur (ISL), HC Vardar 1961 (MKD), RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO), RK Partizan AdmiralBet (SRB), HC Kriens-Luzern (SUI), and IFK Kristianstad (SWE).

When will the final participants be decided?

An evaluation group including the EHF, EHF Marketing, and a Forum Club Handball representative is reviewing all upgrade requests this week. The EHF Executive Committee will subsequently confirm these selections.

The final decision may be announced on Monday, June 22. This announcement precedes the group phase draw, which is scheduled for June 26 in Vienna.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum number of teams allowed per federation?
The EHF limits each federation to a maximum of three teams.

How did MT Melsungen qualify for the 2026/27 season?
MT Melsungen earned their place by winning the EHF European League Men 2025/26.

When and where will the group phase draw take place?
The draw will occur on June 26 in Vienna.

Which of the upgrade-requesting teams do you think most deserves a spot in the expanded 24-team format?