USA Wins 2026 Men IHF Trophy North America and the Caribbean Title

The United States men’s youth team won the 2026 Men’s IHF Trophy – North America and the Caribbean after defeating Martinique 26-25 in the final, ihf.info reported. The tournament took place between October 6 and October 10 at the Puerto Rico Olympic Training Center in Salinas, featuring eight regional teams split into two groups.

Group Stage Standings and Group A Results

Eight squads started the competition divided into two groups of four, with the top two sides in each group advancing to the semi-finals. In Group A, Canada claimed three wins to secure the top spot, while Guadeloupe took second place after dropping only their match against Canada, ihf.info reported. Canada opened with a 62-17 victory over Trinidad and Tobago, followed by a narrow 29-28 win against Guadeloupe and a 29-27 win over Mexico. Guadeloupe subsequently defeated Mexico 32-27 and Trinidad and Tobago 65-19, leaving Mexico in third place and Trinidad and Tobago in fourth.

Group B Dynamics and Martinique Three-Way Tie

In Group B, the United States finished first with a 31-28 win over Puerto Rico, a 33-24 victory against Greenland, and a 29-28 win against Martinique. Martinique placed second in the group, having lost 29-28 to Greenland but defeating Puerto Rico 43-22. Puerto Rico beat Greenland 36-34, but the hosts finished bottom of the group standings after Martinique advanced through a three-way tie decided by superior goal difference, ihf.info reported.

Semi-Final Knockouts and Medal Matches

In the semi-finals, the United States defeated Guadeloupe 24-15 behind a strong defensive effort. Meanwhile, Martinique produced an upset by defeating Canada 31-22, building an 18-9 halftime lead after jumping ahead 4-1 in the opening six minutes, ihf.info reported. In the bronze medal match, Canada defeated Guadeloupe 37-27 to secure the final spot on the podium.

The Final Match and Goal Scoring Leaders

The title match between the United States and Martinique proved to be a closely contested affair. Martinique took an early 7-5 lead after 17 minutes, but United States centre back Jorge Gomez De Santiago inspired a 5-0 scoring run before halftime to put his side ahead 13-9. Martinique rallied in the second half as Mézyann Clamart and Miguel William combined for 14 goals, applying heavy pressure and taking a 23-20 lead in the 50th minute. After Martinique erased a deficit with a three-goal run, Jorge Gomez De Santiago scored the final two goals for the United States to finish with 13 in the match, holding off Martinique in the closing four minutes for a 26-25 victory, ihf.info reported.

Jorge Gomez De Santiago finished as the competition’s top scorer with 50 goals. Greenland’s Noah Duus followed with 45 goals, and Martinique’s Mézyann Clamart scored 42, ihf.info reported.

Qualification for the 2027 Youth World Championship

The tournament served as a regional qualification event for the 2027 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, with the top two teams earning berths to the global tournament. Because Martinique is an affiliated member of the IHF without eligibility to participate in World Championships, the United States and third-placed Canada will represent North America and the Caribbean at the 2027 flagship competition, ihf.info reported.