In the first round of qualification, 23 teams not participating at the European Championship were split into six groups; the group winners advanced to the second round, joining the 12 European finalists not already qualified for the 2019 World Championships (Denmark and Germany has qualified as hosts, France has qualified as defending champions and Spain has qualified as the European Champion). These 18 teams then were paired to play a two-legged playoff tie to determine the nine remaining World Championship qualifiers from Europe.[1]
Bosnia Herzegovina won the game 21–15, but an ineligible player took part in the match. Switzerland launched a protest after the game.[3] The EHF accepted the protest and the result of the match was awarded 10–0 in favour of Switzerland.[4]
Qualification stage 2
The draw took place on 27 January at 16:00 in Zagreb, Croatia.[5][6] All stage 1 winners and three worst placed teams from European Championship were unseeded at the draw.