Bosnia and Herzegovina Handball Team Falls to Iceland in 2026 European Championship Qualifier

The Bosnia and Herzegovina national handball team suffered a defeat in their first qualifying match for the 2026 European Championship, losing to Iceland with a score of 32:26 in Reykjavík.

Despite being the underdog, the Bosnian team offered strong opposition to the favored Icelandic team, remaining competitive for the full 50 minutes until they were tied.

We Went into the Break with a Draw

Iceland initially took the lead, but the Bosnian team refused to let them pull away, eventually taking the lead for the first time towards the end of the half.

The score was tied at 12:12 at halftime, and the game remained evenly matched. At one point, Bosnia and Herzegovina managed to gain a two-goal advantage, but Iceland responded with a 3:0 series to tie the game.

In the final ten minutes, Iceland broke through the Bosnian team’s resistance, and a crucial moment occurred in the 49th minute when Senjamin Burić received a red card. This led to a collapse in the Bosnian team’s performance, allowing Iceland to gain a significant advantage and ultimately win with a 6:0 series.

Luka Perić Leads the Team in Scoring

Luka Perić was the most effective player for the Bosnian team, scoring seven goals, while Mislav Grgić added five. For Iceland, Þorsteinn Gunnarsson and Orri Þorkelsson each scored six goals.

The Bosnian team will have another chance to win on Sunday when they host the Greek team in Cazin. The Greek team defeated Georgia 27:26 in their previous match.