The Men's 20 EHF EURO 2026 concluded on Sunday with the final and bronze medal matches. Hungary edged Sweden 34-32 in overtime in the final to be crowned champions, securing their first-ever European title at this age level.
In the bronze medal match, Slovenia raced out to a strong start and held on to beat Denmark 30-28, claiming third place. As crossover matches were played later in the day, the final standings of the remaining teams in the tournament were also confirmed.
The tournament's All-Star Team was also announced. Sweden's Liam Hultberg, who once again played a decisive role for his side in the final, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. The All-Star Team featured goalkeeper Viggo Håkansson (Sweden), left wing Simon Sejer Kristensen (Denmark), left back Aljuš Anžic (Slovenia), centre back Márkó Eklemovic (Hungary), pivot Arvid Andreasson (Sweden), right back Måns Fredriksson (Sweden) and right wing Alfred Arnelin (Sweden). Máté Mészáros (Hungary) was named the tournament's Best Defensive Player, while Valdis Kalnins (Latvia) finished as top scorer.
Activity in the youth categories continues this summer. The Men's 18 EHF EURO 2026 will kick off in ten days, once again putting Europe's young talents in the spotlight.
Hungary make history in overtime to win Men's 20 EHF EURO title
At the Men's 20 EHF EURO 2026, Hungary defeated Sweden 34-32 in overtime to claim their first-ever European title in the category. In the bronze medal match, Slovenia beat Denmark 30-28.
Hungary's overtime triumph in the final is a telling sign of the fruits of sustained youth development work. Sweden's presence with five players on the All-Star Team, headlined by MVP Liam Hultberg, underscores just how deep their squad was — yet it still wasn't enough on final day, a striking reminder of how a single match can decide the colour of a medal at youth level. Latvia's Valdis Kalnins finishing as top scorer, despite his team's overall standing, is another detail highlighting how individual quality can stand out independent of team results. Tournaments like this deserve close attention, as they often serve as the first real test for names we'll see wearing senior national colours in the years ahead.
