32 teams will play the group matches, starting on October 8 and running through to November 26. From the group matches, the top 16 teams — two top-ranked sides in each group — will progress to the main round.
But fans of the EHF European League Men 2024/25 do not have to wait until October for the action to begin, as 20 teams will vie for places in the group matches through the qualification round. The first leg of the qualification round will be played on August 31 and September 1, while the second leg will take place on September 7 and 8.
EHF European League Men 2024/25 qualification round:
ABC de Braga (POR) vs ABANCA Ademar Leon (ESP)
MT Melsungen (GER) vs Elverum Håndbold (NOR)
RK Trimo Trebnje (SLO) vs Limoges Handball (FRA)
GC Amicitia Zürich (SUI) vs HC Kriens-Luzern (SUI)
Mors-Thy Handbold (DEN) vs VfL Gummersbach (GER)
Valur (ISL) vs RK Bjelin Spacva Vinkovci (CRO)
IFK Kristianstad (SWE) vs Fraikin BM Granollers (ESP)
Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN) vs FTC Green-Collect (HUN)
Maritimo da Madeira Andebol SAD (POR) vs Ystads IF HF (SWE)
EHF European League Men 2024/25 special qualification:
HCB Karvina (CZE) vs RK Izvidac (BIH)
Draw pots
The pots for the draw are as follows:
Pot 1: SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER), FC Porto (POR), Montpellier Handball (FRA), RK Nexe (CRO), GOG (DEN), Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI), Bidasoa Irun (ESP), IK Sävehof (SWE)
Pot 2: Gornik Zabrze (POL), CSM Constanta (ROU), RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO), HC Vardar 1961 (MKD), MOL Tatabanya KC (HUN), FH Hafnarfjordur (ISL), Tatran Presov (SVK), THW Kiel (GER)
Pot 3: Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR), Fenix Toulouse Handball (FRA), MRK Sesvete (CRO), Bathco BM Torrelavega (ESP), KGHM Chrobry Glogow (POL), and the winners of the following qualification matches: MT Melsungen (GER) vs Elverum Handball (NOR), ABC de Braga (POR) vs Abanca Ademar Leon (ESP), Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN) vs FTC Green-Collect (HUN)
Pot 4: The winners of the following qualification matches: GC Amicitia Zürich (SUI) vs HC Kriens-Luzern (SUI), IFK Kristianstad (SWE) vs Fraikin BM Granollers (ESP), Maritimo da Madeira Andebol SAD (POR) vs Ystads IF HF (SWE), RK Trimo Trebnje (SLO) vs Limoges Handball (FRA), Valur (ISL) vs RK Bjelin Spacva Vinkovci (CRO), Mors-Thy Handbold (DEN) vs VfL Gummersbach (GER), HCB Karvina (CZE) vs RK Izvidac (BIH); HC Vojvodina (SRB)
Draw procedure
As teams from the same country cannot be drawn into the same group, the draw for pots 2 to 4 will have separate and individual proceedings. From pot 2, the only situation to be considered is that Kiel must be kept apart from Flensburg (pot 1).
This issue will be more evident for pot 3 and pot 4, especially as these include the matches of the qualification round, where two teams from two countries are involved and it is not yet known who will progress. Therefore, both teams in each qualification tie must be kept apart from other teams from the same countries.
As a consequence of this, teams in pot 3 can still be drawn in a certain order. The teams in pot 4 will need to be allocated to the first available group, starting from group A all the way to group H, considering that all steps in the allocating procedure must carry through to the last group.
The teams will be allocated following the seeding of the competition. A detailed and step-by-step explanation of the procedure and especially of the allocation of teams in pot 4 will be provided during the draw.
