Preliminary Round
The preliminary round shall be played in four groups consisting of four teams each, in which all teams compete against each other (round robin system).
The teams ranked 1-3 from each group after the preliminary round qualify for the main round.
The teams ranked 4 from each group depart after the preliminary round.
Matches shall be played in 2 x 30 minutes with a half-time break of 10 minutes. There shall be no extra time. The participating teams are obliged to show up exactly in time at the meeting point for the pre-match procedure and on the playing court after the half time break.
Points are awarded as follows:
win = 2 points
draw = 1 point
match lost = 0 points
Teams are ranked by adding the points gained.
If two or more teams have gained the same number of points from the group matches, the teams will be ranked as follows:
During the group matches:
- Goal difference in all matches;
- Greater number of plus goals in all matches;
- Alphabetical order
After the completion of the group matches:
- Results in points gained in the direct encounter of the teams;
- Goal difference in the direct encounter of the teams;
- Greater number of plus goals in the direct encounter of the teams;
- Goal difference in all matches achieved by subtraction;
- Greater number of plus goals in all matches;
If a ranking is still not possible, a draw decides the ranking. The draw shall be carried out by the EHF, if possible in the presence of the responsible team officials.
Places 13 to 16
The teams ranked last in each group depart after the preliminary round and will be ranked 13 to 16 according to the following system:
- Number of points gained in the preliminary round;
- In the case that the number of points is the same, the goal difference of all matches shall be the deciding factor;
- In the case that the number of points and the goal difference are the same, the ranking shall be based on the greater number of plus goals of all matches;
- In the case that the number of points, the goal difference and the greater number of plus goals are the same, the team which played in the preliminary round against the highest ranked team according to the final ranking will be ranked higher.
