The second group phase of the IKF European Korfball Championship 2026 has drawn to a close, setting up a compelling knockout stage and clarifying the pathways for every team still competing in Czechia.
After three rounds of matches in the restructured Groups E, F, G and H, the top two teams from each of the upper pools have booked their places in the semi-finals. The Netherlands and Germany will meet in one semi-final, while hosts Czechia and Belgium face each other in the other. These four nations will contest the medals on the final day of the championship.
Photo: Marco Spelten
Semi-Final Line-Up
Semi-final 1: Netherlands vs Germany
Semi-final 2: Czechia vs Belgium
The Netherlands topped Group E with a perfect record, while Belgium finished first in Group F. Czechia and Germany secured the runner-up spots in their respective groups to complete the final four. All four teams will now turn their attention to the medal matches, with the winners advancing to the final and the losers contesting the bronze medal.
Battle for the Remaining Places
While the focus turns to the semi-finals, the remaining twelve teams continue to compete with clear objectives. Teams finishing third and fourth in Groups E and F will play for positions 5 to 8, determining the final ranking among the strongest sides outside the medal contenders.
In the lower half of the draw, Groups G and H have produced a tight contest for places 9 to 16. Poland and Hungary finished top of their respective groups, with Wales and Slovakia taking second place. Ireland, Switzerland, Serbia and Scotland will contest the matches for positions 13 to 16. The teams competing for places 9 to 12 will do so knowing that the stakes extend beyond the European ranking.
Qualification for the World Championship 2027
The IKF European Korfball Championship 2026 serves as Europe’s primary qualification tournament for the IKF World Korfball Championship 2027, which will take place in the Netherlands. The top ten teams from the final European standings will qualify automatically for the World Championship (with the Netherlands already assured of their place as hosts). Teams finishing 9th and 10th will therefore secure their tickets to the global event, while those finishing just outside the top ten will look to the reserve lists. Every remaining match carries significant weight for the teams still chasing a place among Europe’s leading nations.
Follow the Action
The cross-matches, semi-finals and classification games continue over the coming days, with the medal matches and final ranking games scheduled for the weekend. Fans can follow every match live on the official IKF YouTube channel, with full statistics, match reports and image galleries available on korfball.sport and worldkorfball.sport.
Stay connected with the championship across social media using the hashtags #EKC2026 and #Korfball. Follow IKF profiles on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for the latest results, behind-the-scenes content and updates.
– Social media: Follow using #EKC2026 and #korfball on the official IKF platforms for the latest images, clips and highlights.
Tickets for the remaining sessions are available via the local organising committee website at korfbal2026.cz.
The road to the European title is now clear, and the battle for World Championship places remains wide open. Whether you are supporting a medal contender or a team fighting for qualification, the decisive phase of the IKF European Korfball Championship 2026 is under way.
