The NACHC Qualifier for the 2024 IHF Men’s Club World Championship, due to take place in Egypt, will see four teams lined up at the start, with the winner taking the coveted ticket for the club world handball flagship competition.
The competition will take place between 10 and 13 July, in New York, the United States of America, in a round-robin format, with the top two placed teams after the preliminary round facing off in the final, scheduled on 13 July.
Three teams from the United States of America – New York City THC, Los Angeles THC and the California Eagles – and one team from Mexico – Kraken Handball – will be at the start, as only New York City THC have already featured in the IHF Men’s Club World Championship, finishing ninth in 2019.
Mexico’s Kraken Handball are qualified for the second time in the continental competition, after finishing fourth in the last edition, dropping three of the four matches they played.
Seven-time US champions, the New York City THC are trying to return to the club world handball flagship competition, but will face a sturdy challenge from current US champions, the California Eagles.
The Cal Eagles were founded in 2022, but have an experienced roster, including experienced stalwart Andrew Donlin, and coach Danilo Rojevic, who have been already at the club world handball flagship competition, with the San Francisco CalHeat.
“This tournament is a huge opportunity not only to qualify for the 2024 IHF Men’s Club World Championships but also to showcase our sport on home soil. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to compete against the best teams on our continent in New York,” says Donlin.
The last participating team is the Los Angeles THC, which struck up a partnership with Dutch side KRAS/Volendam, led by the former coach of the Dutch team, Mark Ortega.
Diego Jacobs, Ephrahim Jerry and Zlatko Pavicevic, three former KRAS/Volendam players, will join LA Team Handball Club for the qualifying tournament.
“It’s a unique situation and with the help of our network in Volendam we will form a strong team to be competitive. And of course, we only go for the win. This is more than a tournament; it’s a chance to play against world class teams,” said Ortega.