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Buy tickets for Croatia vs Georgia - Handball – European Handball Championship 2026 Buy tickets for Croatia vs Georgia - Handball – European Handball Championship 2026

Handball – European Handball Championship 2026 (GROUP E)
17. January 2026. 17:00h
Croatia vs Georgia
Malmö Arena, Malmo, SE
2026
17
January
Photo by: Domagoj Skledar/ arhiva (vlastita)

Tickets for Croatia vs Georgia, Matchday 1 of the European Handball Championship 2026 in Malmö Arena (Hyllie)

Looking for tickets for Croatia vs Georgia at Malmö Arena? Here you can secure tickets for Matchday 1 of the European Handball Championship 2026 and plan your visit to Hyllie with key details on the venue location, transit options, entry planning, expected crowd atmosphere, and the on-court matchups to watch

Croatia vs Georgia in Malmö: the opening of the European journey and a night where tickets set the atmosphere

The Croatian men’s handball national team opens its appearance at the 2026 European Handball Championship in Malmö Arena against Georgia, in a match that already in the first round carries more than the usual points for the start of a tournament. Although it is an early stage of the competition, this Group E clash is often viewed as a key step toward qualifying for the next round, because the rhythm and confidence from the first appearance can shape the entire stay at the championship. The kickoff is scheduled for 17.01.2026 at 17:00 Coordinated Universal Time, which means that fans in Malmö and Croatia will follow the match at 18:00, and the arena environment will be ready for the “first blow” of the competition. That is precisely why interest in tickets rises as match day approaches, because many want to be part of the first evening when you can feel how the team breathes and how the crowd reacts to every save and every goal. Secure your tickets now and follow the match from the stands, because tickets for openings like this regularly become a sought-after commodity as the start of the championship draws near.

Group E and the road to the next phase: what the schedule brings and why the first points carry special weight

Group E brings together Croatia, Georgia, Sweden, and the Netherlands, and the schedule is set so that key days of the first round are played in Malmö Arena, with an emphasis on the rhythm of three matches in a short span. After the match with Georgia, Croatia continues against the Netherlands and then plays against Sweden, which already on paper creates a clear picture that the opening result can determine how much pressure there will be in the next appearances. The competition system rewards stability, because from each group you advance with the best placement and points that often decide every ball later on, so maximum seriousness is required against “paper-wise weaker” opponents. At tournaments like these, the table is built from the first minute, and the initial “zero points” for all teams lasts only until the first whistle, after which every goal and every two-minute suspension turns into the topic of the day. That is why tickets for the Croatia – Georgia match have added value: it is the first chance for the crowd to see how the team has put together its form, bench depth, and defensive habits, and fans want to be the voice that raises the intensity as soon as the first strings of stops and fast breaks begin. When it is felt in Malmö that the stands are “in it” from the start, both the players and the opponents quickly realize the match has a different pulse than on neutral ground.

Croatia in a new cycle: stable defense, speed in transition, and leaders who take responsibility

Croatia arrives at the championship with the reputation of a team that has recently raised its level at major competitions, including the 2025 world silver medal, which gives it the status of a national team nobody wants to “catch” on a good day. It is especially interesting how this cycle emphasizes the balance between defense and attack, because the impression from the court often comes down to the question of how quickly Croatia turns a won ball into a goal before the opponent gets set. In such a model of play, players who can withstand contact but also bring calm in the finish are extremely important, especially when a first-round match “sticks” and becomes nervous. The captaincy role is passing to a new generation, with Ivan Martinović in focus as a player who combines outside shooting and organization, while the more experienced core of the team maintains standards in defense and communication. Tickets for this event gain additional significance because the crowd can see up close the details that are easily lost on screen, such as small switches in the 6–0 zone, blocks at nine meters, and the way the team agrees after conceding a goal—nuances that often separate a routine win from a match that gets complicated.

The head coach and the concept of play: continuity of the idea matters more than one-day form

Head coach Dagur Sigurdsson took over Croatia in February 2024, and since then a clear playing idea has been emphasized—one that demands discipline in defense and firm control of the tempo when the attack does not run smoothly. In big tournaments, the most dangerous team is the one that knows how to win even when it does not look its best, and that is built through roles, rotations, and trust in the plan, especially in matches against an opponent looking for a chance in a slower game. In that approach, Croatia often stresses patience, because against closed defenses solutions are sought through passing quality and shot selection, not through forcing that gives the opponent easy fast breaks. Sigurdsson’s work is also visible in the expectation of bench depth—meaning more players can find rhythm without a big drop—which is important in a schedule with matches close together. Precisely in the first match of a tournament, coaches often want to “normalize” emotions and turn them into energy, and that is where the fans in the arena become an important part of the equation. Buy tickets via the button below and experience what a match looks like in which every instruction and every agreement can be heard from the stands, because matches like these reveal how ready a team is to respond to pressure right at the start of the championship.

Georgia as an opponent: another European stage in a row and the ambition to take a step further

Georgia comes to the championship with the experience of a recent first major appearance, and now wants to show that its emergence on the European stage was not a coincidence but the beginning of continuity. In qualifying, they recorded three wins—including two against Bosnia and Herzegovina and one against Greece—along with three losses, which brought them second place in the group and a new ticket to the final tournament. Their identity is often linked to energy and a powerful outside shot, and key attacking figures are right back Giorgi Tskhovrebadze and Giorgi Dikhaminjia, players who can carry runs and swing momentum when space opens up. In Group E they again face opponents they have already met on the big stage, such as Sweden and the Netherlands, which gives them a clear reference of where they were and what they must improve to remain competitive until the last minute. Against Croatia, quite logically, they will look for a way to reduce turnovers and turn their attack into long possessions, because that increases the chance the match stays close. That is why this clash is interesting even for neutral spectators in Malmö, so tickets also attract those who want to see how an underdog builds a plan against a favorite and whether an upset can emerge at the level of tactical discipline, not just inspiration.

Key matchups on the court: outside shooting, the defensive block, and line play

Matches like this are often decided in three areas that look “classic” but are decisive in practice: controlling outside shooting, the solidity of the defensive block, and efficiency of line play. Croatia will try to close the lanes and force Georgia into tougher attempts from outside, but must be careful in situations where one accurate shooter catches a streak and “ignites” the match. On the other side, the Georgian defense will have to respond to Croatia’s width and the option to open the attack through cooperation between the center back and the pivot, especially when a quick goal is needed after a suspension. In the first round, the discipline factor is also important, because two-minute suspensions often produce a 2:0 or 3:0 run, and such a deficit against a favorite can be hard to pull back. Croatia will aim to keep the tempo under control, but also to take “easy” goals from fast breaks that break the opponent’s plan, while Georgia will try to win the match with long attacks and calm finishes. For fans buying tickets, it is especially interesting to watch the details up close, such as how blocks are set at nine meters, how 2-on-2 is defended, and how quickly teams get back on defense after a miss, because it is precisely in these small things that you see the difference between a team accustomed to late-game situations and a team that is still building routine.

Malmö Arena and the city context: Hyllie as an arrival hub and a zone where the experience is sought

Malmö Arena is located in the Hyllie district at Hyllie Stationsväg 2, Malmo, SE, and is positioned conveniently next to a transport hub that makes arrival easier for many fans than they expect for an event of this level. The arena opened in 2008 and holds around 12 thousand spectators, and that capacity often creates the feeling that every seat is “close” to the court, which enhances the handball experience where you can hear contact, impacts, and communication in defense. A special advantage of the location is the proximity of Hyllie railway station, about 80 meters away, with connections that lead to central Malmö in a few minutes, as well as to Copenhagen Airport and Copenhagen itself, which makes it easier for those traveling from the region. Hyllie is developing as a green urban district and is often highlighted as a modern zone with infrastructure that can handle major events, so on match nights you can feel the whole neighborhood “switch” into sports mode. For fans planning a trip, tickets are not just entry to the arena but also a “key” to the full city experience, because time before and after the match naturally turns into a walk, photos, and fan gatherings around the arena. Tickets for this match disappear quickly, so buy your tickets in time and plan your arrival so you catch the atmosphere already in the hours before kickoff, when you can see in Hyllie how important the match is to both the home crowd and visitors.

Practical information for visitors: arrival, entrances, and planning the evening around tickets

For those coming from outside Malmö, the most sensible plan is to combine arrival with public transport, because the arena is designed so that a large number of people can arrive and leave without long waiting, especially given the proximity of Hyllie Station and bus stops. The recommendation is to arrive earlier, not only because of security checks and entrances, but also because before matches a crowd often forms around the approaches, and fans want to take their seats, buy refreshments, and “catch” the warm-up. It is smart to prepare tickets in advance and have them ready upon arrival, because that avoids unnecessary delays at the entrances and reduces stress immediately before the match starts. In handball the tempo is fast, so many want to be in their place before the first minute so they do not miss the starting lineups, the first stop, or an early goal that can steer the entire match. If you are planning a family visit or coming in a larger group, buying tickets in time also makes it easier to agree on seats and the whole evening schedule, and clicking the button labeled

will be the fastest way to get tickets without wandering and unnecessary steps.

What to expect in the stands: the Croatian voice, neutral fans, and a match played beyond the court

Matches of the Croatian national team at major competitions regularly attract traveling fans, and in Malmö a mix is expected of the home crowd, Croatian fans from Scandinavia and the region, and neutral handball lovers who want to feel the “tournament” vibe. In such a combination, the atmosphere often gains a specific dynamic, because every run of stops is rewarded loudly and every miss triggers a reaction, which can affect both players and referees in terms of the rhythm of the match. Croatia traditionally grows when the stands “hold” the energy, especially when the defense strings together and fast breaks are born from such situations, and opponents then have to solve their attack under the pressure of noise and time. Georgia, on the other hand, can benefit if it manages to quiet the arena through long attacks and precise shots, because that reduces the number of fast breaks and drops the match into a slower mode. In such an environment, tickets become a kind of entry into the story, because the spectator does not come only to watch the result but also to participate in an event where you feel the tension, the shout after a block, and the moment when the arena collectively “pulls” the team toward a run. Secure your tickets now and arrive earlier to catch the full experience, because handball in the arena is loudest and most intense precisely when the energy is built gradually, from the warm-up to the first big stop.

Sources:
- HRS (hrs.hr) - Croatia’s schedule and information about Group E and the competition format
- Malmö Arena (malmoarena.com) - data on the location, capacity, and transport connectivity of the arena in Hyllie
- Official championship website (ehfeuro.eurohandball.com / eurohandball.com) - profiles of the Croatia and Georgia national teams with key players and qualification context
- Gol.hr (gol.dnevnik.hr) and RTL (rtl.hr) - overview of the schedule and kickoff times of Croatia’s matches in Group E
- TNT Sports (tntsports.co.uk) - display of the match and the Group E table ahead of the first round

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3 hours ago, Author: Sports desk

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