Players are gearing up for the opening match.

KUWAIT CITY, May 4: The 10th edition of the Arab Men's Handball Championship officially begins today at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex Hall in Sabah Al-Salem. The tournament, running through May 11, features nine participating teams divided into three groups:

Group A: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq

Group C: Kuwait, UAE, Morocco

According to tournament regulations, the top team from each group and the best second-placed team will qualify for the semi-finals.

The championship opens with three first-round clashes:

Iraq vs. Bahrain at 3:00 pm

Qatar vs. Saudi Arabia at 5:00 pm

Kuwait vs. Morocco at 7:00 pm

The second and third rounds of the preliminary stage will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Tournament Director and Secretary General of the Kuwait Handball Association, Qaid Al-Adwani, urged fans to rally behind the national team in its first match of the tournament.

“We are proud to host the 10th Arab Men’s Handball Championship on Kuwaiti soil once again,” Al-Adwani said. “This event reflects the unwavering support of our political leadership, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and the Public Authority for Sports.”

He emphasized the national team's recent achievements and the importance of fan support ahead of the upcoming Asian Championship, which will serve as the qualifier for the 2027 World Cup, also to be hosted by Kuwait.

Al-Adwani also praised Kuwait’s long-standing legacy in organizing major regional and continental sports events. He thanked the organizing committees for their dedicated efforts over the past weeks and expressed his hope for a successful and well-run tournament.

This is the first Arab Men’s Handball Championship since 2002. Past winners include:

Egypt: 1975, 1977

Kuwait: 1979, 1988

Tunisia: 1986, 1993

Saudi Arabia: 1988

Algeria: 2000

Bahrain: 2002

Kuwait aims to recapture glory as the championship returns to the "Land of Friendship and Peace."