The tournament was held in Ljubljana and Maribor, Slovenia, from 22 to 29 July 2019. It was the 19th edition of the Mens Youth (U-19) World Handball Championships, and the fifth simultaneous Women’s and Men’s Youth World Championships.
Increasing cross-gender youth sporting events are drawing global attention, and this year’s tournament in Slovenia marked a key milestone—bringing together top male and female handball players from around the world in one country for the first time in its history.

Why The tournament was held in Ljubljana and Maribor, Slovenia, from 22 to 29 July 2019. It was the 19th edition of the Mens Youth (U-19) World Handball Championships, and the fifth simultaneous Womens & Mens Youth World Championships.
This dual championship format reflects a growing trend toward integrated international youth sports development in smaller but accessible host nations. Slovenia, known for its strong community sports infrastructure and modern facilities, provided an ideal environment to support high-level competition for both age groups. The coordinated scheduling and shared venue resources between U-19 men’s and women’s events enabled efficient organization while maximizing visibility—a strategy increasingly studied by international sports federations aiming to enhance youth engagement across genders.

How The tournament was held in Ljubljana and Maribor, Slovenia, from 22 to 29 July 2019. It was the 19th edition of the Mens Youth (U-19) World Handball Championships, and the fifth simultaneous Womens & Mens Youth World Championships.
The events were hosted across both cities in Slovenia, which brought together national teams, scouts, and officials in a compact, dynamic setting designed to support participant experience and spectator access. Ljubljana served as the main hub for women’s competitions, leveraging its central location and modern sports facilities, while Maribor hosted key matches for the men’s tournament using state-of-the-art infrastructure known for fostering competitive play. The decision to site both finals weeks in the same week, 22–29 July, allowed for logistical cohesion and strengthened media coordination. Though not all countries attended in force, the well-choreographed venue shift helped maintain momentum and attention across multiple urban centers.

Understanding the Context

Common Questions People Have About The tournament was held in Ljubljana and Maribor, Slovenia, from 22 to 29 July 2019. It was the 19th edition of the Mens Youth (U-19) World Handball Championships, and the fifth simultaneous Womens & Mens Youth World Championships.