The European Handball Federation (EHF) has confirmed the 22 pairings for the second round of the 2026/27 EHF European Cup Women, setting up 44 clubs to compete across the continent starting this October.
Tournament Format and the New Country Protection Rule
The European Handball Federation, a total of 54 teams entered the 2026/27 competition, with 44 clubs entering directly into the second round as the first round was omitted from the calendar. The draw ceremony took place at the EHF House in Vienna, Austria. For the first time in the history of the EHF European Cup Women, a country protection rule was applied to the draw. Prior to the ball drop, the 44 participating clubs were divided into two groups and two pots each to ensure that teams from the same national federation would not face each other in this round.
Match Schedule and Upcoming Round Three Expansion
The first-leg matches of the second round are scheduled to take place on October 3–4, followed by the second-leg fixtures a week later on October 10–11, according to EHF announcements. The 22 winning teams advancing on aggregate scores will move on to the third round in November, where they will join 10 clubs that received direct byes past the second round.
Complete Second Round Pairings
The 22 matchups for the second round are:
- Maccabi Haarazim Ramat Gan (Israel) vs. ADAA São Pedro do Sul (Portugal)
- HB Sint Truiden (Belgium) vs. Athinaikos HC (Greece)
- HB Dudelange (Luxembourg) vs. H71 (Faroe Islands)
- Odunpazari SK (Türkiye) vs. LK Zug Handball (Switzerland)
- ZORK Bor (Serbia) vs. ZRK Krivaja (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Holon HC (Israel) vs. HC Byala (Bulgaria)
- Mavrommatis (Cyprus) vs. CASCADA – HC Garliava SC (Lithuania)
- APOEL KN. Ag. Trimithias (Cyprus) vs. Kur (Azerbaijan)
- KHF Samadrexha (Kosovo) vs. Neistin (Faroe Islands)
- Zwartwoud Kwiek (Netherlands) vs. OŽRK Krajina Cazin (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Jomi PDO Salerno (Italy) vs. HC DAC Dunajská Streda (Slovakia)
- VIF (Faroe Islands) vs. KHF Ferizaj (Kosovo)
- HC Galychanka (Ukraine) vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
- JuRo Unirek VZV (Netherlands) vs. Yellow Winterthur (Switzerland)
- Clube Jovem Almeida Garrett (Portugal) vs. Youth Union of Athienou (Cyprus)
- Anagennisi Artas (Greece) vs. RSK Egle Vilnius (Lithuania)
- RK Ruma (Serbia) vs. ZRK Velenje (Slovenia)
- SSV Brixen Südtirol (Italy) vs. WHC Vardar (North Macedonia)
- Bnot-Herzliya H.C. (Israel) vs. KHF Shqiponja (Kosovo)
- HB Red Boys Differdange (Luxembourg) vs. Levalea 2010 (Montenegro)
- RK Hadzici (Bosnia and Herzegovina) vs. KHF Istogu (Kosovo)
- HK Slovan Duslo Sala (Slovakia) vs. Drive in Units Quintus (Netherlands)
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