View source for 1997 World Men's Handball Championship

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox international handball competition
| tourney_name = World Men's Handball Championship 
| year = 1997
| yearr = 
| other_titles = 1997年男子世界ハンドボール選手権大会
| image = 
| size = 
| caption = 
| country = Japan
| dates = 16 May–1 June
| num_teams = 24
| motto = 
| confederations = 
| venues = 4
| cities = 3
| champion = Russia
| count = 2
| second = Sweden
| third = France
| fourth = Hungary
| matches = 80
| goals = 3741
| attendance = 
| top_scorer = {{flagathlete|[[Yoon Kyung-shin]]|KOR}} 62 (12)
| player = {{flagathlete|[[Talant Duyshebaev]]|ESP}}
| updated =
| previous = 1995 World Men's Handball Championship
| next = 1999 World Men's Handball Championship
}}
The '''1997 [[World Men's Handball Championship]]''' was the 15th [[team handball]] World Championship. It was held in [[Kumamoto]], [[Japan]] and was the first World Championship not played in a [[Europe]]an country. [[Russia men's national handball team|Russia]] won the championship.

==Qualification==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Competition !! Dates !! Vacancies !! width="130px"|Qualified
|-
| Host nation || ||style="text-align:center;"|1 || {{hb|JPN}}
|-
| [[1995 World Men's Handball Championship]] || 7–21 May 1995 ||style="text-align:center;"|1 || {{hb|FRA}}
|-
| [[Handball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament]] || 24 July – 4 August 1996 || style="text-align:center;"|1 || {{hb|CRO}}	
|-
| [[1996 European Men's Handball Championship]] || 24 May – 2 June 1996 || style="text-align:center;"|4 || {{hb|RUS}}<br>{{hb|ESP}}<br>{{hb|FR Yugoslavia}}<br>{{hb|SWE}}
|-
| [[1996 Pan American Men's Handball Championship]] || 8–13 October 1996 || style="text-align:center;"|3 || {{hb|CUB}}<br>{{hb|ARG}}<br>{{hb|BRA}}
|-
| [[1996 African Men's Handball Championship]] || 16–29 October 1996 || style="text-align:center;"|4 || {{hb|ALG}}<br>{{hb|TUN}}<br>{{hb|EGY}}<br>{{hb|MAR}}
|-
| European qualification || 20 August – 1 December 1996 || style="text-align:center;"|6 || {{hb|CZE}}<br>{{hb|HUN}}<br>{{hb|ISL}}<br>{{hb|ITA}}<br>{{hb|NOR}}<br>{{hb|POR}}
|-
| Asian qualification || 30 September – 4 December 1996 || style="text-align:center;"|3 || {{hb|KSA}}<br>{{hb|CHN}}<br>{{hb|KOR}}
|-
| EHF v OCHF Play-off || 31 January – 2 February 1997 || style="text-align:center;"|1 || {{hb|LTU}}	
|}

== Venues ==

The organizing committee used four venues to host the 1997 World Men's Handball Championship:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://todor66.com/handball/World/Men_1997.html |title=Men Handball XV World Championship 1997 Kumamoto (JPN) 17.05-01.06 Champion Russia |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824145539/http://www.todor66.com/handball/World/Men_1997.html |archivedate=24 August 2011 }}</ref>

* Group A: Park Dome [[Kumamoto]]
* Group B: [[Kumamoto]] City Gym
* Group C: [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]] City Gym
* Group D: [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]] City Gym

==Preliminary round==
The top 4 placed teams of each group continues to the knockout stage. The teams are ranked through the following rules.
#Team with the most points (2 points for each won game, 1 point for each drawn game).
#If two teams get the same points, the winner in the game between the two teams get ranked first.
#If the game between the teams ended in a draw, the team with the best goal difference get ranked first.

===Group A===
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|winpoints=2

|team1=ISL|name_ISL={{hb|ISL}}
|team2=YUG|name_YUG={{hb|FR Yugoslavia}}
|team3=LTU|name_LTU={{hb|LTU}}
|team4=JPN|name_JPN={{hb|JPN}}
|team5=ALG|name_ALG={{hb|ALG}}
|team6=KSA|name_KSA={{hb|KSA}}
|win_ISL=4|draw_ISL=1|loss_ISL=0|gf_ISL=124|ga_ISL=106
|win_YUG=4|draw_YUG=0|loss_YUG=1|gf_YUG=129|ga_YUG=111
|win_LTU=2|draw_LTU=1|loss_LTU=2|gf_LTU=110|ga_LTU=102
|win_JPN=2|draw_JPN=0|loss_JPN=3|gf_JPN=101|ga_JPN=104
|win_ALG=1|draw_ALG=2|loss_ALG=2|gf_ALG=103|ga_ALG=112
|win_KSA=0|draw_KSA=0|loss_KSA=5|gf_KSA=94|ga_KSA=126

|col_A=green1|text_A=[[#Round of 16|Round of 16]]
|result1=A|result2=A|result3=A|result4=A
|update=complete|source=
}}

{{handballbox 
|date= 17 May
|time= 19:30
|team1={{hb-rt|ISL}}
|score=24 – 20
|team2={{hb|JPN}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=14-10
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 18 May
|time= 15:00 
|team1={{hb-rt|KSA}}
|score=18 – 27
|team2={{hb|LTU}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=6-12
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 18 May
|time= 17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|FR Yugoslavia}}
|score=22 – 19
|team2={{hb|JPN}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=9-7
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 18 May
|time= 19:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ALG}}
|score=27 – 27
|team2={{hb|ISL}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=13-15
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 19 May
|time= 13:00
|team1={{hb-rt|FR Yugoslavia}}
|score=29 – 21
|team2={{hb|LTU}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=17-10
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 19 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ALG}}
|score=19 – 14
|team2={{hb|KSA}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=6-3
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 21 May
|time= 19:00
|team1={{hb-rt|JPN}}
|score=23 – 20
|team2={{hb|KSA}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=15-10
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 22 May
|time= 13:00
|team1={{hb-rt|LTU}}
|score=19 – 19
|team2={{hb|ALG}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=10-10
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 22 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ISL}}
|score=27 – 18
|team2={{hb|FR Yugoslavia}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=11-9
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 24 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|KSA}}
|score=20 – 32
|team2={{hb|FR Yugoslavia}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=11-15
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 24 May
|time= 17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ALG}}
|score=14 – 24
|team2={{hb|JPN}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=4-13
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 24 May
|time= 19:00
|team1={{hb-rt|LTU}}
|score=19 – 21
|team2={{hb|ISL}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=8-10
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 25 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|KSA}}
|score=22 – 25
|team2={{hb|ISL}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=12-15
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 25 May
|time= 17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|JPN}}
|score=15 – 24
|team2={{hb|LTU}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=7-11
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 25 May
|time= 19:00
|team1={{hb-rt|FR Yugoslavia}}
|score=28 – 24
|team2={{hb|ALG}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=14-12
}}

===Group B===
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|winpoints=2

|team1=FRA|name_FRA={{hb|FRA}}
|team2=SWE|name_SWE={{hb|SWE}}
|team3=KOR|name_KOR={{hb|KOR}}
|team4=NOR|name_NOR={{hb|NOR}}
|team5=ITA|name_ITA={{hb|ITA}}
|team6=ARG|name_ARG={{hb|ARG}}
|win_FRA=4|draw_FRA=0|loss_FRA=1|gf_FRA=127|ga_FRA=114
|win_SWE=4|draw_SWE=0|loss_SWE=1|gf_SWE=141|ga_SWE=101
|win_KOR=3|draw_KOR=1|loss_KOR=1|gf_KOR=128|ga_KOR=127
|win_NOR=1|draw_NOR=2|loss_NOR=2|gf_NOR=104|ga_NOR=109
|win_ITA=1|draw_ITA=1|loss_ITA=3|gf_ITA=100|ga_ITA=105
|win_ARG=0|draw_ARG=0|loss_ARG=5|gf_ARG=96|ga_ARG=140

|col_A=green1|text_A=[[#Round of 16|Round of 16]]
|result1=A|result2=A|result3=A|result4=A
|update=complete|source=
}}

{{handballbox 
|date= 18 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|FRA}}
|score=25 – 21
|team2={{hb|ITA}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=12-10
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 18 May
|time= 17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|NOR}}
|score=21 – 21
|team2={{hb|KOR}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=11-8
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 18 May
|time= 19:00
|team1={{hb-rt|SWE}}
|score=36 – 17
|team2={{hb|ARG}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=17-6
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 20 May
|time= 13:00
|team1={{hb-rt|FRA}}
|score=26 – 27
|team2={{hb|KOR}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=18-11
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 20 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|SWE}}
|score=24 – 17
|team2={{hb|NOR}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=12-8
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 21 May
|time= 18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ITA}}
|score=19 – 19
|team2={{hb|NOR}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=10-9
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 21 May
|time= 20:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ARG}}
|score=20 – 24
|team2={{hb|FRA}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=8-12
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 22 May
|time= 13:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ARG}}
|score=15 – 21
|team2={{hb|ITA}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=3-10
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 22 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|KOR}}
|score=21 – 36
|team2={{hb|SWE}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=9-21
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 24 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|KOR}}
|score=32 – 22
|team2={{hb|ARG}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=19-13
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 24 May
|time= 17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|NOR}}
|score=20 – 23
|team2={{hb|FRA}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=10-11
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 24 May
|time= 19:00
|team1={{hb-rt|SWE}}
|score=19 – 17
|team2={{hb|ITA}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=8-10
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 25 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ITA}}
|score=22 – 27
|team2={{hb|KOR}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=9-12
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 25 May
|time= 17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|NOR}}
|score=27 – 22
|team2={{hb|ARG}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=14-9
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 25 May
|time= 19:00
|team1={{hb-rt|FRA}}
|score=29 – 26
|team2={{hb|SWE}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=12-14
}}

===Group C===
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|winpoints=2

|team1=ESP|name_ESP={{hb|ESP}}
|team2=EGY|name_EGY={{hb|EGY}}
|team3=CZE|name_CZE={{hb|CZE}}
|team4=TUN|name_TUN={{hb|TUN}}
|team5=POR|name_POR={{hb|POR}}
|team6=BRA|name_BRA={{hb|BRA}}
|win_ESP=4|draw_ESP=1|loss_ESP=0|gf_ESP=141|ga_ESP=103
|win_EGY=4|draw_EGY=1|loss_EGY=0|gf_EGY=129|ga_EGY=94
|win_CZE=3|draw_CZE=0|loss_CZE=2|gf_CZE=119|ga_CZE=105
|win_TUN=2|draw_TUN=0|loss_TUN=3|gf_TUN=92|ga_TUN=108
|win_POR=1|draw_POR=0|loss_POR=4|gf_POR=119|ga_POR=123
|win_BRA=0|draw_BRA=0|loss_BRA=5|gf_BRA=65|ga_BRA=132

|col_A=green1|text_A=[[#Round of 16|Round of 16]]
|result1=A|result2=A|result3=A|result4=A
|update=complete|source=
}}

{{handballbox 
|date= 18 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|POR}}
|score=26 – 18
|team2={{hb|BRA}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=13-7
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 18 May
|time= 17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CZE}}
|score=22 – 24
|team2={{hb|EGY}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=11-12
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 18 May
|time= 19:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ESP}}
|score=32 – 21
|team2={{hb|TUN}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=13-11
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 20 May
|time= 13:00
|team1={{hb-rt|BRA}}
|score=10 – 24
|team2={{hb|CZE}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=6-12
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 20 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|EGY}}
|score=19 – 19
|team2={{hb|ESP}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=11-10
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 21 May
|time= 18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|TUN}}
|score=19 – 18
|team2={{hb|POR}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=9-7
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 21 May
|time= 20:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ESP}}
|score=32 – 11
|team2={{hb|BRA}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=15-3
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 22 May
|time= 13:00
|team1={{hb-rt|EGY}}
|score=24 – 17
|team2={{hb|TUN}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=12-8
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 22 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CZE}}
|score=28 – 24
|team2={{hb|POR}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=14-11
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 24 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|BRA}}
|score=11 – 33
|team2={{hb|EGY}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=4-18
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 24 May
|time= 17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CZE}}
|score=19 – 18
|team2={{hb|TUN}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=10-12
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 24 May
|time= 19:00
|team1={{hb-rt|POR}}
|score=26 – 29
|team2={{hb|ESP}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=11-12
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 25 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|TUN}}
|score=17 – 15
|team2={{hb|BRA}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=11-6
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 25 May
|time= 17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|POR}}
|score=25 – 29
|team2={{hb|EGY}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=14-12
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 25 May
|time= 19:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ESP}}
|score=29 – 26
|team2={{hb|CZE}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yamaga, Kumamoto|Yamaga]]
|HT=13-11
}}

===Group D===
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|winpoints=2

|team1=RUS|name_RUS={{hb|RUS}}
|team2=HUN|name_HUN={{hb|HUN}}
|team3=CUB|name_CUB={{hb|CUB}}
|team4=CRO|name_CRO={{hb|CRO}}
|team5=CHN|name_CHN={{hb|CHN}}
|team6=MAR|name_MAR={{hb|MAR}}
|win_RUS=5|draw_RUS=0|loss_RUS=0|gf_RUS=150|ga_RUS=84
|win_HUN=4|draw_HUN=0|loss_HUN=1|gf_HUN=128|ga_HUN=103
|win_CUB=2|draw_CUB=1|loss_CUB=2|gf_CUB=128|ga_CUB=117
|win_CRO=2|draw_CRO=1|loss_CRO=2|gf_CRO=123|ga_CRO=115
|win_CHN=1|draw_CHN=0|loss_CHN=4|gf_CHN=101|ga_CHN=160
|win_MAR=0|draw_MAR=0|loss_MAR=5|gf_MAR=90|ga_MAR=141

|col_A=green1|text_A=[[#Round of 16|Round of 16]]
|result1=A|result2=A|result3=A|result4=A
|update=complete|source=
}}

{{handballbox 
|date= 18 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|RUS}}
|score=31 – 17
|team2={{hb|CUB}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=17-9
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 18 May
|time= 17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CRO}}
|score=34 – 21
|team2={{hb|CHN}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=17-9
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 18 May
|time= 19:00
|team1={{hb-rt|HUN}}
|score=25 – 19
|team2={{hb|MAR}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=10-8
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 19 May
|time= 13:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CHN}}
|score=15 – 34
|team2={{hb|RUS}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=6-20
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 19 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|MAR}}
|score=17 – 26
|team2={{hb|CRO}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=7-14
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 21 May
|time= 18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|RUS}}
|score=30 – 13
|team2={{hb|MAR}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=14-7
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 21 May
|time= 20:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CUB}}
|score=21 – 22
|team2={{hb|HUN}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=8-11
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 22 May
|time= 13:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CHN}}
|score=21 – 32
|team2={{hb|CUB}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=9-19
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 22 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CRO}}
|score=20 – 23
|team2={{hb|HUN}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=10-8
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 24 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|MAR}}
|score=21 – 25
|team2={{hb|CHN}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=8-13
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 24 May
|time= 17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CRO}}
|score=23 – 23
|team2={{hb|CUB}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=13-13
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 24 May
|time= 19:00
|team1={{hb-rt|HUN}}
|score=19 – 24
|team2={{hb|RUS}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=7-13
}}
----
{{handballbox 
|date= 25 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CUB}}
|score=35 – 20
|team2={{hb|MAR}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=17-16
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 25 May
|time= 17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|HUN}}
|score=39 – 19
|team2={{hb|CHN}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=20-12
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 25 May
|time= 19:00
|team1={{hb-rt|RUS}}
|score=31 – 20
|team2={{hb|CRO}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Yatsushiro, Kumamoto|Yatsushiro]]
|HT=15-7
}}

==Final round==
=== Bracket ===
{{4RoundBracket-Byes
| RD1        = Round of 16
| RD2        = Quarterfinals
| RD3        = Semifinals
| RD4        = Final
| RD1-seed01 = A1
| RD1-team01 = '''{{hb|ISL}}'''
| RD1-score01 = '''32'''
| RD1-seed02 = B4
| RD1-team02 = {{hb|NOR}}
| RD1-score02 = 28

| RD1-seed03 = C3
| RD1-team03 = {{hb|CZE}}
| RD1-score03 = 19
| RD1-seed04 = D2
| RD1-team04 = '''{{hb|HUN}}'''
| RD1-score04 = '''20'''

| RD1-seed05 = C1
| RD1-team05 = '''{{hb|ESP}}'''
| RD1-score05 = '''31'''
| RD1-seed06 = D4
| RD1-team06 = {{hb|CRO}}
| RD1-score06 = 25

| RD1-seed07 = A3
| RD1-team07 = {{hb|LTU}}
| RD1-score07 = 20
| RD1-seed08 = B2
| RD1-team08 = '''{{hb|SWE}}'''
| RD1-score08 = '''32'''

| RD1-seed09 = D3
| RD1-team09 = {{hb|CUB}}
| RD1-score09 = 20
| RD1-seed10 = C2
| RD1-team10 = '''{{hb|EGY}}'''
| RD1-score10 = '''24'''

| RD1-seed11 = B1
| RD1-team11 = '''{{hb|FRA}}'''
| RD1-score11 = '''22'''
| RD1-seed12 = A4
| RD1-team12 = {{hb|JPN}}
| RD1-score12 = 21

| RD1-seed13 = B3
| RD1-team13 = '''{{hb|KOR}}'''
| RD1-score13 = '''37'''
| RD1-seed14 = A2
| RD1-team14 = {{hb|FR Yugoslavia}}
| RD1-score14 = 33

| RD1-seed15 = D1
| RD1-team15 = '''{{hb|RUS}}'''
| RD1-score15 = '''20'''
| RD1-seed16 = C4
| RD1-team16 = {{hb|TUN}}
| RD1-score16 = 14

| RD2-seed01 = A1
| RD2-team01 = {{hb|ISL}}
| RD2-score01 = 25
| RD2-seed02 = D2
| RD2-team02 = '''{{hb|HUN}}'''
| RD2-score02 = '''26'''

| RD2-seed03 = C1
| RD2-team03 = {{hb|ESP}}
| RD2-score03 = 24
| RD2-seed04 = B2
| RD2-team04 = '''{{hb|SWE}}'''
| RD2-score04 = '''28'''

| RD2-seed05 = C2
| RD2-team05 = {{hb|EGY}}
| RD2-score05 = 19
| RD2-seed06 = B1
| RD2-team06 = '''{{hb|FRA}}'''
| RD2-score06 = '''22'''

| RD2-seed07 = B3
| RD2-team07 = {{hb|KOR}}
| RD2-score07 = 15
| RD2-seed08 = D1
| RD2-team08 = '''{{hb|RUS}}'''
| RD2-score08 = '''32'''

| RD3-seed01 = D2
| RD3-team01 = {{hb|HUN}}
| RD3-score01 = 19
| RD3-seed02 = B2
| RD3-team02 = '''{{hb|SWE}}'''
| RD3-score02 = '''31'''

| RD3-seed03 = B1
| RD3-team03 = {{hb|FRA}}
| RD3-score03 = 24
| RD3-seed04 = D1
| RD3-team04 = '''{{hb|RUS}}'''
| RD3-score04 = '''25'''

| RD4-seed01 = B2
| RD4-team01 = {{hb|SWE}}
| RD4-score01 = 21
| RD4-seed02 = D1
| RD4-team02 = '''{{hb|RUS}}'''
| RD4-score02 = '''23'''

| RD4-seed03 = D2
| RD4-team03 = {{hb|HUN}}
| RD4-score03 = 27
| RD4-seed04 = B1
| RD4-team04 = '''{{hb|FRA}}'''
| RD4-score04 = '''28'''
}}
{{4TeamBracket-with 3rd
| RD1        = 5-8th place semifinals
| RD2        = 5th place
| RD2b        = 7th place
| RD1-seed1 = A1
| RD1-team1 = '''{{hb|ISL}}'''
| RD1-score1 = '''32'''
| RD1-seed2 = C1
| RD1-team2 = {{hb|ESP}}
| RD1-score2 = 23

| RD1-seed3 = C2
| RD1-team3 = '''{{hb|EGY}}'''
| RD1-score3 = '''28'''
| RD1-seed4 = B3
| RD1-team4 = {{hb|KOR}}
| RD1-score4 = 27

| RD2-seed1 = A1
| RD2-team1 = '''{{hb|ISL}}'''
| RD2-score1 = '''23'''
| RD2-seed2 = C2
| RD2-team2 = {{hb|EGY}}
| RD2-score2 = 20

| RD2b-seed1 = C1
| RD2b-team1 = '''{{hb|ESP}}'''
| RD2b-score1 = '''33'''
| RD2b-seed2 = B3
| RD2b-team2 = {{hb|KOR}}
| RD2b-score2 = 26
}}

===Round of 16===
{{handballbox 
|date= 27 May
|time= 13:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ISL}}
|score=32 – 28
|team2={{hb|NOR}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=13-15
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 27 May
|time= 13:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ESP}}
|score=31 – 25
|team2={{hb|CRO}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=16-14
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 27 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|KOR}}
|score=37 – 33
|team2={{hb|FR Yugoslavia}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=12-13
|FT=30-30
|OT1=7-3
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 27 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CUB}}
|score=20 – 24
|team2={{hb|EGY}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=9-10
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 27 May
|time= 18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|LTU}}
|score=20 – 32
|team2={{hb|SWE}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=9-18
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 27 May
|time= 18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CZE}}
|score=19 – 20
|team2={{hb|HUN}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=9-11
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 27 May
|time= 20:00
|team1={{hb-rt|FRA}}
|score=22 – 21
|team2={{hb|JPN}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=11-11
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 27 May
|time= 20:00
|team1={{hb-rt|RUS}}
|score=20 – 14
|team2={{hb|TUN}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=12-5
}}
----

===Quarter-finals===
{{handballbox 
|date= 29 May
|time= 18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ISL}}
|score=25 – 26
|team2={{hb|HUN}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=11-14
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 29 May
|time= 18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ESP}}
|score=24 – 28
|team2={{hb|SWE}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=12-12
|FT=21-21
|OT1=3-7
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 29 May
|time= 20:00
|team1={{hb-rt|KOR}}
|score=15 – 32
|team2={{hb|RUS}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=6-16
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 29 May
|time= 20:00
|team1={{hb-rt|EGY}}
|score=19 – 22
|team2={{hb|FRA}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=8-13
}}
----

===Placement matches===
{{handballbox 
|date= 30 May
|time= 13:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ESP}}
|score=23 – 32
|team2={{hb|ISL}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=11-11
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 30 May
|time= 15:00
|team1={{hb-rt|KOR}}
|score=27 – 28
|team2={{hb|EGY}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=11-15
}}
----

===7th place match===
{{handballbox 
|date= 31 May
|time= 16:00
|team1={{hb-rt|ESP}}
|score=33 – 26
|team2={{hb|KOR}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=17-12
}}

===5th place match===
{{handballbox 
|date= 31 May
|time= 16:00
|team1={{hb-rt|EGY}}
|score=20 – 23
|team2={{hb|ISL}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=9-10
}}
----

===Semi-finals===
{{handballbox 
|date= 31 May
|time= 18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|HUN}}
|score=19 – 31
|team2={{hb|SWE}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=7-14
}}
{{handballbox 
|date= 31 May
|time= 18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|FRA}}
|score=24 – 25
|team2={{hb|RUS}}
|stadium=City gym, [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=12-14
|FT=21-21
|OT1=3-4
}}
----

===Bronze final===
{{handballbox 
|date= 1 June
|time= 14:00
|team1={{hb-rt|FRA}}
|score=28 – 27
|team2={{hb|HUN}}
|stadium=[[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|HT=15-12
}}

===Final===
{{handballbox 
|date= 1 June
|time= 16:00
|team1={{hb-rt|SWE}}
|score=21 – 23
|team2={{hb|RUS}}
|report= [http://statistics.eurohandball.com/reports/?m=973111084 Report]
|goals1= 
|goals2= 
|HT=10-11
|OT1=
|OT2=
|OT3=
|twomin1=
|yellow1=
|red1=
|twomin2=
|yellow2=
|red2=
|stadium= [[Park Dome Kumamoto|Park Dome]], [[Kumamoto]]
|attendance= 11,100
|referee= 
|refnat= 
}}

== Final standings ==
# '''{{hb|Russia}} ''' [[File:Gold medal blank.svg|18px|Gold medal blank]]
# {{hb|Sweden}} [[File:Silver medal blank.svg|18px|Silver medal blank]]
# {{hb|France}} [[File:Bronze medal blank.svg|18px|Bronze medal blank]]
# {{hb|Hungary}}
# {{hb|Iceland}}
# {{hb|Egypt}}
# {{hb|Spain}}
# {{hb|South Korea}}
# {{hb|FR Yugoslavia}}
# {{hb|Lithuania}}
# {{hb|Czech Republic}}
# {{hb|Norway}}
# {{hb|Croatia}}
# {{hb|Cuba}}
# {{hb|Japan}}
# {{hb|Tunisia}}
# {{hb|Algeria}}
# {{hb|Italy}}
# {{hb|Portugal}}
# {{hb|China}}
# {{hb|Saudi Arabia}}
# {{hb|Argentina}}
# {{hb|Morocco}}
# {{hb|Brazil}}

==Medalists==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 95%;"
|-
|style="width: 15em; background: gold"|'''Gold'''
|style="width: 15em; background: silver"|'''Silver''' 
|style="width: 15em; background: #CC9966"|'''Bronze''' 
|-
|style="vertical-align:top;"|{{hb|RUS}}
----
{{unbulleted list|list_style=text-align:center;|[[Andrey Lavrov]]|[[Pavel Sukosyan]]|[[Vasily Kudinov]]|[[Vyacheslav Gorpishin]]|[[Dmitri Torgovanov]]|[[Stanislav Kulinchenko]]|[[Oleg Grebnev]]|[[Vyacheslav Atavin]]|[[Igor Lavrov]]|[[Oleg Kuleshov]]|[[Lev Voronin (handballer)|Lev Voronin]]|[[Sergey Pogorelov]]|[[Eduard Koksharov]]|[[Valery Gopin]]|[[Denis Krivoshlykov]]
----
:'''Head coach''' : Mr. [[Vladimir Maksimov (handballer)|Vladimir Maksimov]] }}
|style="vertical-align:top;"|{{hb|SWE}}
----
{{unbulleted list|list_style=text-align:center;|[[Magnus Andersson (handballer)|Magnus Andersson]]|[[Martin Frändesjö]]|[[Peter Gentzel]]|[[Robert Hedin]]|[[Ola Lindgren]]|[[Stefan Lövgren]]|[[Mats Olsson (handballer)|Mats Olsson]]|[[Staffan Olsson]]|[[Johan Petersson (handballer)|Johan Petersson]]|[[Tomas Sivertsson]]|[[Jan Stankiewicz]]|[[Tomas Svensson]]|[[Pierre Thorsson]]|[[Ljubomir Vranjes]]|[[Magnus Wislander]]
----
:'''Head coach''' : Mr. [[Bengt Johansson (handball)|Bengt Johansson]] }}
|style="vertical-align:top;"|{{hb|FRA}}
----
{{unbulleted list|list_style=text-align:center;|[[Christian Gaudin (handballer)|Christian Gaudin]]|[[Bruno Martini (handballer)|Bruno Martini]]|[[Francis Franck]]|[[Éric Amalou]]|[[Patrick Cazal]]|[[Stéphane Cordinier]]|[[Guillaume Gille]]|[[Stéphane Joulin]]|[[Philippe Julia]]|[[Guéric Kervadec]]|[[Bernard Latchimy]]|[[Yannick Reverdy]]|[[Jackson Richardson]]|[[Stéphane Stoecklin]]|[[Marc Wiltberger]]|[[Sémir Zuzo]]
----
:'''Head coach''' : Mr. [[Daniel Costantini]] }}
|}

==All Star Team==
* Goalkeeper: [[Mats Olsson (handballer)|Mats Olsson]] {{SWE}}
* Left Wing: [[Valery Gopin]] {{RUS}}
* Left Back: [[Vasily Kudinov]] {{RUS}}
* Center Back: [[Talant Duyshebaev]] {{ESP}}
* Pivot: [[Guéric Kervadec]] {{FRA}}
* Right Back: [[Staffan Olsson]] {{SWE}}
* Right Wing: [[Valdimar Grímsson]] {{ISL}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://archive.ihf.info/upload/PDF-Download/MenWorldCh/jap97.pdf Official report]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110824145539/http://www.todor66.com/handball/World/Men_1997.html WC97 by todor66]

{{International Handball}}
{{World Handball Championship}}

[[Category:World Men's Handball Championship]]
[[Category:1997 in Japanese sport|Handball]]
[[Category:International handball competitions hosted by Japan]]
[[Category:1997 in handball|Handball]]
[[Category:May 1997 sports events in Asia]]
[[Category:June 1997 sports events in Asia]]
[[Category:Sport in Kumamoto Prefecture]]