NFH Kampprogram - Magasin - Side 3
Foreword EHF President
Dear handball friends,
Final season before change comes to EHF Champions League Women
Last season, history was made in the EHF Champions League Women, as Metz Handball became
the first French team ever to win the top-tier women’s competition. The stage is set for a thrilling
last season played to the current format before an adaptation implemented in 2027/28.
From 2027/28, the group phase will look different, with smaller groups designed to make the stage
as competitive as possible. Before that system is introduced, the 16 teams have one last chance to
conquer the current format, which sees two groups of eight teams beginning the journey to the EHF
FINAL4 Women in Budapest.
The latest two winners of the EHF Champions League Women, Metz Handball and Györi Audi ETO
KC, start in group B, which also features 2024/25 finalists Odense Håndbold. Rounding out the
group are Gloria Bistrita, Champions League stalwarts HC Podravka, EHF European League
2023/24 title winners Storhamar Håndball Elite, HSG Blomberg-Lippe and Nykøbing Falster
Håndbold.
Group A is headlined by two of last season’s semi-finalists, Brest Bretagne Handball and CSM
Bucuresti. They are joined by a hungry Team Esbjerg eager to return to Budapest after missing the
EHF FINAL4 Women last season following four straight participations. FTC-Toyota Kovács, who
played for the trophy in 2022/23, also hope to take the EHF FINAL4 Women court in their home
city come May.
Completing group A are BV Borussia Dortmund, RK Krim OTP Group Mercator, OTP Group
Buducnost and Sola Håndballklubb. Where Buducnost followed by Krim are the record holders for
most matches played in the EHF Champions League Women, Sola are on the complete other end of
the scale: Set for their second top-flight season following their debut in 2025/26.
The EHF Champions League Women continues evolving with more teams reaching the competitive
level required to play among the world’s best — and this last season with the larger groups will be
the springboard for the new format that will pave the way for what is to come.
We anticipate a thrilling season as the EHF Champions League Women farewells an era and looks
ahead to the next.
Yours in sport,
Michael Wiederer
EHF President
