This is the second year of the Elite Groups format. Featuring some of the strongest youth academies from the Nordic region and across Europe, the groups are contested in the B16, G16, B18 and G18 categories.

The Elite Groups are designed to provide the strongest teams with high-quality and challenging matches from the very first day of the tournament. They also give spectators the chance to watch some of the future stars of handball in action.

– I really hope everyone visiting the tournament takes the opportunity to watch these matches. It’s a chance for everyone to experience handball of the highest quality, says Martin Laanemets, Competition Manager at Partille World Cup.

All teams in the Elite Groups automatically advance to the A Playoffs, where they face teams that have qualified from the other groups in their respective age categories. Martin Laanemets also hopes to see teams from outside the Elite Groups make a strong impression.

– It’s always exciting to see if a team can surprise everyone. If that happens, we want to take notice of that team and hopefully offer them a place in next year’s Elite Groups.