Women's Handball World Championship Final: Spain and Montenegro Battle for Gold, Live on VOYO
In the final of the U18 Women's Handball World Championship in Pitești, Romania, the defending champions will face the tournament's biggest surprise.
In the final of the U18 Women's Handball World Championship in Pitești, Romania, the defending champions will face the tournament's biggest surprise.
The U18 Women's Handball World Championship is nearing its climax. After nearly two weeks of intense competition in the Romanian cities of Pitești, Mioveni, Craiova, and Râmnicu Vâlcea, only two teams remain in the hunt for the gold medal. On Sunday, August 9, 2026, a formidable Spain will face Montenegro, the team that has produced the biggest upset of the tournament.
Handball fans in Croatia will be able to catch all the action. The broadcast from the Pitești Arena begins at 5:20 PM on the streaming platform VOYO, with the final itself starting at 5:30 PM Croatian time. Earlier in the day, at 3:00 PM, Denmark and Egypt will battle for the bronze medal.
This final will be the second meeting between the two sides in the competition. Their first encounter in the second group phase was a real nail-biter. Although Spain ultimately secured the win with a 35-33 scoreline, the picture on the court was far more complex. The young Montenegrin side proved they could go toe-to-toe with the favorites. With five minutes left on the clock, they held a two-goal lead (31-29), but a calmer and more experienced Spanish team managed to turn the game around in the dying moments.
That defeat was painful for Montenegro, but it also showed them they are on par with the defending champions. Adding to the uncertainty is their meeting last year. At the European Championship in Podgorica, this generation of Montenegrin players beat Spain 22-20 in the bronze-medal match. This time, however, the stakes are significantly higher.
For Montenegrin women's handball, this is already a historic achievement. Coach Miloš Perović's charges have become the first generation in the country's history, in any age category, to reach a World Championship final. Their path to the decisive match has been impressive, culminating in a semifinal victory over a favored Danish side. In a grueling tactical and physical battle, the young "lionesses" showed fantastic character to win 27-25, securing at least a silver medal.
Their fighting spirit and unity have won over the fans, and they are driven by a clear motto, as noted by the official website of the International Handball Federation (IHF): "We will give our all until the last breath to secure the win." With that mindset, Montenegro can rightly believe in a fairytale ending and their first-ever world title.
On the other side of the court stands a team accustomed to lifting trophies. Spain arrived in Romania as the reigning champions and have confirmed their status as the main favorites throughout the tournament. Their performance exudes confidence, tactical maturity, and squad depth. Winning one world title is a massive achievement, but defending it is something only a select few have managed.
Since the competition began in 2006, only Russia has managed to win back-to-back titles, doing so in 2016 and 2018. Now, Spain has the chance to become only the second nation to achieve this feat. The pressure is inevitable, but their vast experience in big matches is their key advantage heading into the final in front of nearly five thousand spectators at the Pitești Arena. While Montenegro chases their dream, Spain looks to repeat their own success.
The Croatian women's youth team finished their campaign in 18th place, following a 34-26 loss to Portugal in the final of the consolation President's Cup. Despite this, local handball fans will have the chance to enjoy the tournament's finale on the VOYO platform. Everything is set for the final act in Romania. Will Montenegro complete their fairytale, or will Spain confirm their dominance? We'll find out on Sunday afternoon.
