The 2026 European Handball Championship odds showcase a clear favorite that will surprise no one. Denmark is once again expect to win a bi tournament, but can someone stop them?
Continue reading to find my analysis of all the main contenders and European Handball Championships predictions for the eventual winner.
2026 Men’s European Handball Championships Odds
| TEAM | BETUS ODDS |
|---|---|
| Denmark | -300 |
| Sweden | +600 |
| France | +900 |
| Norway | +1300 |
| Iceland | +1600 |
| Germany | +2500 |
| Slovenia | +3000 |
| Croatia | +3000 |
| Spain | +4000 |
| Hungary | +15000 |
| Portugal | +25000 |
American and European bettors can get in on the European Men’s Handball Championship action, with Denmark (-300) posted as the clear favorite. Those odds at top sports betting sites give the Danes a 75% implied chance to claim their first European title since 2012.
Denmark fell to France (+900) in last year’s gold medal match, but the defending champions now sit at just a 10% chance to repeat. Sweden (+600) owns the second-best odds for the men’s handball Euro 2026 title and is expected to push Denmark, with a 14.3% implied probability of winning gold.
Overall, Denmark is firmly in the driver’s seat from a betting perspective, and it will likely take an upset for another nation to overtake them. Still, with handball often producing surprises, an underdog run can’t be ruled out.
The odds above are available at BetUS, a top sportsbook for handball. You can find the futures at Sportsbook > Handball > European Championships Outrights.
European handball bettors can go for 22Bet as an alternate option. The winner odds for the European Handball Championship are located at Sports > Handball > European Handball Championship 2026.
2026 Men’s European Handball Championship Favorites
Denmark stands above the rest for the Men’s Euro 2026 title. However, do oddsmakers have it right? Let’s analyze the leading favorites before making my European Handball Championship picks.
Denmark (-300)
Fresh off their gold medal last February at the 2025 World Men’s Handball Championship, Denmark are heavy favorites to add another trophy to their mantle. They ousted Croatia in the gold medal showdown by a score of 32-26.
Denmark swept the tournament without a loss, including a perfect run in the group stage. The competition couldn’t keep up with the Danes, who finished with a stunning +55 goal differential, scoring 118 goals and allowing 63. Only France came close, ending the event with a +50 differential.
Denmark also supplied three of the tournament’s top players, led by MVP Mathias Gidsel. The 26-year-old right back will be back in action at the European Championship, which is ominous news for the rest of the field. In his prime and in peak form, Gidsel looks poised for another dominant performance.
Mathias Gidsel has done it!
A historic DOUBLE-DOUBLE
10 goals 12 assists
He really really wanted that one pic.twitter.com/jMu53BSEDl
— (Un)informed Handball Hour (@HandballHour) January 21, 2025
In today’s handball landscape, no defense can truly stop Gidsel. He’ll be joined by 25-year-old left back Simon Pytlick and 28-year-old goalkeeper Emil Nielsen, both expected to feature prominently for Denmark in this year’s tournament.
Denmark comes in riding a four-match winning streak, highlighted by 38-33 and 34-26 victories over Norway. After capturing the World Men’s Handball Championship, they did drop a couple of close games to France, but those came when they were not at full strength and still short of peak form.
Given their talent, depth, and recent success, I expect the Danes to be thoroughly prepared and to enter the tournament as the clear team to beat. They should roll over Group B without any issues after receiving a favorable draw versus Portugal, Romania, and North Macedonia.
Sweden (+600)
According to the latest European Men’s Handball Championship 2026 odds, Sweden is the only squad viewed as having a realistic chance of keeping up with Denmark. Still, at +600, oddsmakers are not treating them as a true favorite to spring the upset.
Recent results suggest Sweden might be undervalued. At last year’s World Men’s Handball Championship, they topped Group F with a 2-1-0 record and a strong +30 goal differential, scoring 110 goals and conceding just 80. Their campaign ended sooner than expected, though, with a 27-24 loss to Brazil before the quarterfinals.
Sweden also claimed bronze at the 2024 Euros, underscoring their ability to perform on big stages. This current roster looks stronger than the 2024 edition, and the team has clearly progressed since that World Championship disappointment.
Over the past year, Sweden has produced several eye-catching results: a 33-30 win over Denmark in the Euro Cup in May, a 34-31 victory over Spain in November, and back-to-back revenge wins over Brazil by scores of 34-27 and 33-24.
Historically, Sweden has been a powerhouse in this competition. From the mid-1990s through the early 2020s, they captured five gold medals, most recently in 2022, a title that effectively signaled the start of a mild rebuild.
By 2026, that process appears to be paying off. Sweden is turning the corner and is not far from rejoining the conversation as a genuine top contender. Sweden has a clear path to winning Group E, with Croatia the only realistic threat ahead of them.
Men’s European Handball Championship Longshot Bets
With Denmark the big odds-on favorite to win the 2026 Men’s European Handball Championship, there is value on the longshots this year. I’ve selected two underdogs for my handball
2026 European Men’s Handball Championship Predictions and Betting Pick
With the odds stacked so heavily in Denmark’s favor, this is arguably one of the most lopsided pre-tournament betting markets in recent years. Denmark is a terrific squad and likely the best team in the field, but -300 over Sweden and France still feels inflated.
If there’s a blueprint to beating Denmark, it starts with limiting Gidsel. He will get his moments, but Sweden has the defensive structure to collapse on him and keep him from finding a rhythm. Over the past year, Sweden has played fundamentally strong handball and looks better prepared than it was in its World Championship defeat.
The 33–30 victory over Denmark earlier this year gave Sweden both confidence and a clear proof of concept. Coupled with their long-standing success at the Euros since the mid-1990s, it reinforces a winning mentality. They arrive expecting to take the title, not to settle for the role of runner-up.
Having failed to defend their crown in 2024, Sweden enters this tournament with something to prove. Michael Apelgren’s side is in peak form, especially in transition, where they can punish even small Danish mistakes.
Denmark may rightfully be the favorite, but at +600, Sweden stands out as a strong value play and one of the European Men’s Handball Championship best bets.
Where to Bet on the European Men’s Handball Championship?
The odds for the European Men’s Handball Championship are available at select online sportsbooks. For American bettors, we recommend checking out what BetUS has to offer new customers.
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