Swedish Women's Handball Team Secures Spot in 2026 European Championship with Commanding Win Over Serbia

The Swedish women's handball team confirmed their qualification for the 2026 European Championship after a decisive 27-22 victory over Serbia in Lund. Sweden established early dominance, taking a 5-0 lead within the opening eight minutes and carrying a commanding 19-11 advantage into halftime. Despite Serbia's efforts to rally in the second half, they were unable to close the gap.

Clara Lerby was instrumental in the win, scoring seven goals, while Nathalie Hagman celebrated a personal milestone by netting her 1000th goal for the national team during the match. Coach Tomas Axnér praised the team's overall performance, citing strong defensive and offensive tactics that contributed to the successful outcome.

With this victory, Sweden remains undefeated in the qualifiers with eight points secured, ensuring their spot in the EM finals. The tournament will take place from December 3 to 20, 2026, making it the most geographically expansive European Championship to date, hosted across Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Turkey. The qualification phase will wrap up in April with upcoming games against Ukraine and Lithuania.