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Buy tickets for France vs Czech Republic - Handball – European Handball Championship 2026 Buy tickets for France vs Czech Republic - Handball – European Handball Championship 2026

Handball – European Handball Championship 2026 (GROUP C)
15. January 2026. 17:00h
France vs Czech Republic
Unity Arena, Oslo, NO
2026
15
January
Photo by: Domagoj Skledar/ arhiva (vlastita)
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Tickets and seat info: France vs Czechia, Round 1 European Handball Championship 2026, Unity Arena Oslo

Looking for tickets for France vs Czechia at the 2026 European Handball Championship in Unity Arena, Oslo? Here you can check ticket sales and buy seats for the Round 1 match, plus quick details on the schedule, arrival planning, nearby bus stops, and the opening-night atmosphere as demand rises early
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Opening spectacle in Oslo

The European Handball Championship is entering a new chapter in Oslo, and the France vs Czech Republic clash carries the weight of a match that immediately sets the tone for the entire group and the whole tournament. This is a first-round game in the 2026 season, in which France arrives with the label of reigning European champion and naturally attracts great fan interest, while the Czech Republic is looking from the start for a chance to surprise and build momentum on the big stage. Such games regularly drive up demand for tickets, because the audience wants to be part of the first evening and feel the opening charge, nerves, and rhythm that only intensify later. Unity Arena in the vicinity of Oslo becomes the stage where the first points are won, but also the first impressions, and precisely for that reason ticket sales ahead of the tournament’s opening typically go strong and early. Tickets for this match are selling fast, so buy your tickets in time and click the

button.

The group and the stakes of the first points

In the preliminary phase, each team plays a limited number of matches, so already in the first round you can feel how expensive points are and how one bad day can complicate the path to the next round. The group featuring this match brings together very different profiles of national teams, from a favorite expected to deliver results to teams counting on discipline, toughness, and a goalkeeper having a good day, and the schedule also includes other matches in the same arena that further boost the fan atmosphere. That is exactly why, on the first evenings, tickets are often sought for multiple matches within the same time block, because fans like to arrive earlier and stay longer, soaking up the tournament backdrop, songs, and the rhythm of the stands. France and the Czech Republic enter this match aware that early points later turn into a psychological advantage, especially when the days with less rest arrive and rotations become decisive. In such a format there is no room to wait, and for spectators that means a concrete reward right from the start, because it is played with a clear goal and without calculations. That is why buying tickets for a match like this is often the choice of those who want to experience the purest tournament intensity, while everything is still open and every detail carries great weight.
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France as the benchmark

France comes to the championship as the reigning European champion, and that status brings additional pressure, but also a level of quality maintained for years through squad depth and system clarity. In the national-team transition after the departure of big names, the emphasis has been shifted even more strongly to a new core and to players who already play serious roles in the strongest club competitions, and the previews particularly highlight Dika Mem, Elohim Prandi, and captain Ludovic Fabregas, alongside the growing responsibility of Aymeric Minne and Thibaud Briet and goalkeeper Charles Bolzinger. Such a mix of experience and freshness is often France’s strongest argument, because it allows the tempo to stay high even when rotations come, and the defense to remain aggressive without losing control. An additional dimension ahead of the first match was brought by the news of Nédim Rémili’s absence due to a calf injury, which changes the distribution of roles in the backcourt positions from the start and forces the head coach to arrange minutes and responsibilities in attack differently. In such circumstances, it is even more appealing for fans to come to the arena, because live is where you best see how a national team reacts when it has to improvise within the system, and that often brings tactical nuances that are not felt the same on a big screen. Anyone who wants to feel what the first minutes of a title defense look like and how tournament energy is created usually does not wait until the last moment for tickets, because such matches also attract neutral spectators.

The Czech Republic seeks a breakthrough

The Czech Republic enters this clash with a clear awareness that it opens against the toughest possible opponent, but precisely such matches can be ideal for a team that wants to present itself bravely and without fear. The previews especially emphasize the importance of goalkeeper Tomáš Mrkva, with the note that the Czech Republic comes to Oslo with a number of players who are only taking their first big steps at a final tournament, which often also means a certain unpredictability in solutions. Historically, the Czech Republic has had phases at European championships in which it could surprise and reach the upper range, and the best trace remains the sixth-place finish in 2018, which is still a reference point today when talking about this team’s potential. On the other hand, they finished the last European championship without progressing further after early defeats, so the motivation for a firmer start is very clear and easy to feel in the way they talk about the first round. For the Czech Republic it is crucial that the attack is patient, that it reduces the number of technical errors, and that through defense it gets a chance for easier goals, because in set offense France often looks the most stable. In such a story, the fan factor can be decisive, because the arena’s energy can lift even the underdog, and tickets for matches where an upset is sought regularly attract an audience that wants to witness a possible turnaround.

Head-to-head meetings and the psychology of the match

The head-to-head history of these national teams adds an extra layer to the story, because this is not an everyday routine matchup and it carries fragmented memories from different tournament eras. In the overall record at the level of major competitions and official frameworks, the advantage is on France’s side, and the previews cite a record of 7 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses, which confirms long-term quality and continuity. Still, it is interesting that at the European championship they last met back in 2010, when France won by the minimum 21:20, while the Czech Republic also remembers earlier European wins from 1996 and 2004, showing that this tradition is not one-sided and that space for Czech resistance has opened from time to time. Such data often live in the minds of players and staff as a reminder that the favorite can enter more tense and the underdog more freely, especially in the first round when no one yet has a true tournament rhythm. Psychologically, it also matters that this is the first appearance at the championship, so every scoring run immediately turns into an impulse from the stands, and that is precisely why fans often want to secure their tickets earlier to be part of the opening euphoria. In the arena you then best feel what statistics do not capture, namely the moment when the defense tightens, when goalkeepers catch fire, and when the crowd recognizes that something bigger than an ordinary match is happening.
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Tactical frameworks that decide

On the court, this clash most often breaks on three levels: the duel between the back line and the block, the quality of play with the pivot, and how much each side manages to control transition and the retreat into defense. France generally builds its attack through powerful backcourt shooters and through penetration play that opens space for the wings, and when the tempo rises, their physical power and rotation depth come fully to the fore. The Czech Republic will therefore look for ways to slow the ball flow, to force the French into longer attacks, and to push them into positions where the shot comes under pressure, because that is the path to more saves and to a controlled tempo. A special emphasis will be on discipline in defense, because every exclusion against France easily turns into quick punishment, and in the first games of the tournament referees often set a standard that later follows the whole group. In such matches, goalkeepers become the main narrative, so both Mrkva on the Czech side and the French choice between the posts will be in the spotlight, because a few key saves in a row changes the mood of the stands and opens the space for a run. That is exactly why it is appealing for spectators to buy tickets for such a clash, because the tactical tension is not dry, but readable in every contact, in every block, and in every second when the attack must decide whether to take a risk or play it safer.

Unity Arena as the handball stage

Unity Arena in Fornebu, at John Strandruds vei 16, is one of the largest multi-purpose arenas in Norway and is known for being adaptable to different types of events, from sports to major concerts. According to information from the arena itself, the capacity for sports events can go up to around 15 thousand spectators, while for concerts an even larger number is stated, but the configuration for handball and tournament needs is often adjusted so that spectators are closer to the court and a more compact experience is created. In the Norwegian context in recent days it has been especially highlighted that for the championship the arena is set up in a version with a little more than nine thousand seats, which is large enough for the mass to be felt, and close enough for every ball hit and every defensive communication to be heard. Such an environment increases the value of a ticket, because the atmosphere is not diluted, but concentrated, and fans feel like they are part of the game, especially when it is played on the edge and when every save is celebrated like a goal. Interest in tickets is further boosted because this is the opening of the tournament in this city, so many want to be in the arena on that very first evening when you feel the opening energy of the entire championship. Secure your tickets now and click the

button to get to ticket purchase.
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How to get to the arena and what to expect on match day

For visitors coming from Oslo or the wider area, it is crucial to plan arrival earlier, because events at Unity Arena can cause increased traffic on the approaches to Fornebu, especially in the hours before doors open. The arena itself recommends arriving by public transport, and lists Fornebuparken as the nearest bus stop, with the note that for major events that stop can be temporarily closed about one hour before entry, and the Telenor Fornebu stop is then used. This is useful information for everyone buying tickets and planning logistics, because one stop change can mean the difference between a calm entry and unnecessary rushing in the last minutes. In practice, it pays to arrive early enough to pass the entrance check, find your section, and catch the warm-up, which at major tournaments is often an attraction in itself, because you can see the focus, the nerves, and the game plan. The arena is a short distance from central Oslo, but in winter conditions and with crowds before the match you should count on extra time, especially if arriving in the afternoon hours. Buy tickets via the

button and plan your arrival on time, because on days of big matches bottlenecks can easily form around the arena.

Oslo and Fornebu in the city’s championship rhythm

When a major tournament comes to Oslo, you feel it outside the arena as well, because fans often combine the match with a night out in the city, a walk along the fjord, and a short winter experience of the Norwegian capital. Fornebu as an area on the edge of the city offers an interesting contrast: on one side a calmer coastal space and business infrastructure, and on the other a very lively gathering point when there is a game or a performance at Unity Arena. Such an ambience affects ticket demand as well, because travelers and local fans often buy tickets as the central part of a one-day or weekend plan, especially when multiple matches are played in one day. For spectators from Croatia and the region, this match is attractive also because it can be followed live in the arena within a familiar Central European time frame, without a time difference that would complicate planning. During the championship days the city gets an extra rhythm, and fan diversity spills over into public transport and the streets, which often creates the impression that the tournament is not played only in the arena, but across the whole city. Because of that, a ticket becomes an entry into a broader story, into an experience that is both sporting and travel-related, and many choose exactly such matches to feel first-hand what a European handball evening in Norway looks like.
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Where minutes break and why interest in tickets is high

In the first round of a tournament, details often decide, because teams are still searching for the right competitive rhythm, and at the same time want to avoid an early slip that would force them to chase points in the next matches. France in such an environment usually tries to impose its standard already in the first ten minutes, with strong contact in defense and quick punishment of every lost ball, while the Czech Republic will look for stability, longer attacks, and situations in which the match slows down to a level of patience. It is especially interesting to watch how France will distribute responsibility in attack without one of its key players, because such circumstances often open space for someone to establish himself as a new solution and later carry the team through the tournament. Fan interest in Norway is already visible through data on a very high percentage of tickets sold for the championship days in this arena, with an attendance average mentioned in previews as impressive for the group phase, which confirms that a true atmosphere is expected. Such a backdrop can also affect the Czech Republic, because an underdog in a full arena often gets an extra impulse to play above expectations, and the crowd then gets exactly what tickets are bought for: tension, turnarounds, and the feeling that every ball matters. If you want to be part of that energy, it is not a bad idea to think ahead, because once the championship heats up, tickets for attractive time slots become increasingly sought after.

What to watch on the tournament’s first evening

The first evening of the championship carries a broader context as well, because other clashes in other cities open in parallel, so already from the start you can compare who looks more ready, who has a clearer plan, and who has adapted better to the tournament rhythm. In that picture, France vs Czech Republic has special weight because it includes the reigning champion, and such matches always draw extra attention also because the audience wants to see whether the favorite is immediately at its level or needs time. For the Czech Republic this is a chance, through good defense and a goalkeeper in form, to enter the match with the belief that it can prolong the uncertainty, and when that happens, the arena usually reacts loudly and energetically, regardless of whether it cheers for the favorite or for the surprise. For visitors in Unity Arena that means a memorable experience, because the opening of a tournament has a special emotion, and every goal carries additional symbolism of the first points and the first messages to the competition. On such evenings, a feeling is often created that every ticket is worth more, because it is not just one match, but the beginning of the entire competition and an atmosphere that cannot be conveyed in the same way through highlights and statistics. Ticket sales are available, so secure your tickets and click the

button so you can get your tickets for this event in time.
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Sources:
- eurohandball.com, preview of the championship opening and historical data for France vs Czech Republic as well as head-to-head records and information about a player’s absence
- ehfeuro.eurohandball.com, publication of the championship schedule and context of the first matches in Oslo
- tntsports.co.uk, match page with the venue and kick-off time and basic information
- ehfeuro.eurohandball.com, text about the final squads and emphasis on key names for the Czech Republic in the group
- unityarena.no, Q&A with the arena address and recommendations for arriving by public transport and the names of the nearest stops
- unityarena.no, description of the arena and its capacity for sports events
- vg.no, report on audience interest and ticket sales and information about the arena capacity configuration for the championship

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2 hours ago, Author: Sports desk

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