TEHRAN - Iran’s youth handball team advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 Asian Championship and secured qualification for the 2027 World Championship after defeating Uzbekistan on Friday.
Iran faced Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Asian Youth Handball Championship in Jordan and recorded a convincing 36-24 victory.
Coached by Mohammad Reza Rajabi, Iran’s victory secured both a place in the semifinals and a berth at the 2027 World Championship.
Bahrain will face Saudi Arabia and Qatar will take on Jordan later on Friday, with two more World Championship berths at stake.
Iran competed in the group stage alongside Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Syria. The Iranian team recorded three victories against Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Syria and suffered one defeat to Qatar, finishing second in the group behind Qatar.
Iran then defeated Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals to book its place in the last four.
Iran’s squad for the tournament consists of Mohammad Taha Ebrahim Khanlari Sis, Mehdi Ahmadifar, Amirhossein Samarbakhsh, Arshia Javidifar, Hassan Joudaki, Saleh Hessehzadeh, Mohammad Hossein Haghsetan, Mehrshad Mansouri, Shayan Sousani, Ali Ghayour, Farzad Mosayebi, Mohammad Keshavarz, Mahdiar Molavi, Hossein Khojasteh, Farshad Norouzpour, Amirhossein Nik-Eghbal, Mohsen Hadizadeh, Mohammad Reza Hemmati and Mohammad Hossein Kamali.
Iran’s technical staff includes head coach Mohammad Reza Rajabi, coach Aziz Nourbehbahani, team manager Hossein Rajabi, masseur Reza Sarsangi and logistics official Amirhossein Choupani.
The 2026 Asian Youth Handball Championship will continue in Jordan until Sept. 1.