The teams ranked 1st to 3rd in each of the four groups will qualify for the main round, while the teams ranked 4th to 6th will compete in the President’s Cup. The first two teams of the two main round groups will make it through to the semifinal.
Group A : France, Hungary/Bosnia Herzegovina, Slovakia, Romania, Australia, Pan-American 2nd placed team.
Group B: Croatia, Sweden, Spain, South Korea, Kuwait, Pan-American 3rd placed team.
Group C: Germany, Poland, Macedonia, Russia, Tunisia, Algeria.
Group D: Denmark, Norway, Egypt, the Pan-American first placed team, Serbia, Saudi Arabia.
The second leg of the game Bosnia Herzegovina - Hungary in Sarajevo was stopped in the 49th minute due to a large number of objects thrown onto the court. The result at the time of the match was 27:24 for Hungary. The European Handball Federation Body of 1st Instance declared Hungary winner of the dispute, but the Bosnian federation has filed an appeal, who will be judged in the followings days.
Concerning the Pan-American teams in the groups, the three participants squads will be known after the Pan-American Championships, held in the period 24th - 28th June 2008.
