The 24th edition of the Championship, due to take place from January 15 to February 1, is set to have a reduced field of 22 teams following the recent withdrawals of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Fans from around the world can buy tickets for the Opening Ceremony and all the competition's matches, including the opener between hosts Qatar and Brazil.

Matches are scheduled to begin on January 16 and will be played in the new Lusail Multi-Purpose Hall in Al Daayen, the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena in Al Saad and the Duhail Handball Sport Hall in Duhail.

Direct ticket sales for the Qatari general public will commence in the early weeks of December with ticket booths being stationed at the Villaggio, Landmark, City Centre and Al Khor commercial malls.

The original 24-team field for the 2015 World Men's Handball Championship has been reduced to 22 ©Getty Images








Qatar University students will be treated to a special offer, available through the University and Qatar Foundation.

Further announcements on the last 16 and quarter-final ties, scheduled for January 25 and 28 respectively, will be made on the official ticketing site, the International Handball Federation's (IHF) official website and through local media.

During the event, the Championship Organising Committee has ensured direct sales of tickets through its network of ticket box offices at each venue.

No reason has been given for the withdrawals of Bahrain and United Arab Emirates by the IHF, however, it is widely believed that the increasingly strained political tensions between Qatar and its two fellow Gulf Cooperation Council members is the cause.

The tensions relate to Qatar's perceived support of Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East.

To buy tickets for the Championship, click here. 

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November 2014: Bahrain and United Arab Emirates withdraw from 2015 Men's World Handball Championship in Qatar