Sweden Faces Uphill Battle After Heavy Loss to Norway in Women's Handball World Championship

In a critical match for quarter-final qualification at the 2025 Women's Handball World Championship, Sweden suffered a heavy 39-26 defeat against Norway. This loss severely complicates Sweden's chances of advancing, forcing them to win their remaining games against South Korea and Angola, while also relying on favorable outcomes in other matches to progress.

The match was dominated by Norway, who led 24-11 at halftime and maintained control throughout. Filippa Idéhn openly criticized the Swedish team's showing as "incredibly poor," reflecting widespread disappointment. Expert commentator Claes Hellgren remarked on Norway's dominance, saying, "It’s just to bow and scrape. They are too good."

Despite the setback, Sweden’s path to the quarter-finals remains open but narrow. For progression, Norway must continue winning, and Angola must defeat Brazil. If Sweden, Brazil, and Angola finish equal in points, goal difference will be decisive. Sweden's recent four-goal loss to Brazil means they must secure decisive wins and hope Angola achieves a significant victory against Brazil.

Jamina Roberts highlighted the immense pressure on the team ahead of the Norway game and acknowledged Sweden's poor historical record against Norway, with only two wins in the last decade amidst Norway's 92 victories in 131 encounters. Sweden’s sole recent victory was at last year’s Olympics.

Veteran player Mathilda Lundström shed light on player challenges off the court, particularly the frequency of ACL injuries. With six of the 17 Swedish squad players affected, Lundström described the physical and emotional toll of rehabilitation, emphasizing the importance of teammate support and mental resilience for recovery.

With the next matches slated against South Korea and Angola, Sweden must overcome a tough route in group play to keep their World Championship hopes alive after an initially promising start marred by unexpected defeats.