U16 Regional Challenge CupSeason 2026/27
Season 2026/27Organised by the Regional Handball League

U16 Regional
Challenge Cup

Twelve nations. One regional stage.

A new Regional Handball League competition for national U16 teams — players born 2010 and 2011 — across twelve federations of the region.

View the scheduleExplore the format
Next tournament windowInternational week

Boys · Tournament 1

6–8 Nov 2026

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  • ASlovenia
  • BBosnia & H.
  • CMontenegro
  • DTurkey
Full schedule

The competition at a glance

Nations
12
Groups per category
4
Group matches per team
6
Categories
2
Tournament windows
4
Placements decided
1–12
What it is

Six competitive internationals, then a placement final for every team

The U16 Regional Challenge Cup is a new Regional Handball League competition for national teams of players born in 2010 and 2011. It guarantees each of the twelve participating federations six competitive internationals per category in the group stage, and a definitive finishing position between first and twelfth at the end of the season.

Every federation hosts exactly one group-stage tournament, so the competition circulates across the whole region rather than concentrating in a few arenas.

  • Slovenia
  • Croatia
  • Serbia
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • Kosovo
  • North Macedonia
  • Montenegro
  • Turkey
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Bulgaria
  • Greece
Two categories

Boys and girls, drawn separately

Boys competition

First window
6–8 Nov 2026
Finals
6–8 May 2027
  • Group ASlovenia, Croatia, Slovakia
  • Group BBosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania
  • Group CMontenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo
  • Group DTurkey, Bulgaria, Greece
Groups

Girls competition

First window
23–25 Oct 2026
Finals
8–10 Apr 2027
  • Group ASlovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovakia
  • Group BCroatia, Montenegro, Serbia
  • Group CKosovo, Romania, Bulgaria
  • Group DTurkey, Greece, North Macedonia
Groups
The road

Three windows to the finals

01

Draw

Twelve nations are drawn into four groups of three — separately for boys and for girls.

02

Three windows

Each group plays a full round-robin across three tournament weekends. Every federation hosts one of them.

03

Finals 1–12

Group winners meet in Final A, runners-up in Final B, third-placed teams in Final C. Every team leaves with a placement.

FinalsRules
Latest

From the competition office

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Partners

Partner slots open for 2026/27

Partner and supplier positions for the inaugural season are being finalised. Enquiries via the competition office.

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