International Handball Federation

Name

International Handball Federation

Legal name

International Handball Federation

Website

https://ihf.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Basel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Organization and Sanctioning: IHF generates revenue through organizing and sanctioning international handball competitions including World Championships, operating competition management systems, and licensing the use of IHF branding and event rights.
2. Sponsorship and Commercial Partnerships: Official partnerships with equipment manufacturers (Molten for balls, Gerflor for flooring, hummel for sportswear) and marketing agency (SPORTFIVE) generate commercial revenue through sponsorship agreements.
3. Broadcasting Rights: Revenue from television and digital broadcasting rights for IHF-organized competitions and world championships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The International Handball Federation governs and promotes the sport of handball worldwide, organizing World Championships for men's, women's, and beach handball categories. It provides athlete education programs, anti-doping oversight and services, an official Seal of Approval certification program for handball-related products, and digital platforms including a website, mobile application, and fan engagement games. Its offerings are directed at national member federations, professional athletes, broadcasters, commercial sponsors, and handball fans globally.

Product overview

The International Handball Federation operates a comprehensive digital ecosystem centered around its ihf.info website platform. The core offering consists of the main website portal providing competition management, anti-doping services, media coverage, and federation information, complemented by the IHF Mobile App for iOS and Android. Additional products include the IHF Education Platform for training resources, the IHF Games suite for fan engagement (Trivia, Prediction Game, Be A Manager), the IHF Awards program recognizing elite players and coaches, and the IHF Seal of Approval certification program for equipment manufacturers. Together, these products serve to govern, promote, and develop the sport of handball globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IHF World Handball Championships
• IHF Mobile App
• IHF Education Platform
• IHF Seal of Approval
• IHF Anti-Doping Services
• IHF Games (Trivia, Prediction Game, Be A Manager)
• IHF Media Centre
• IHF Awards

Quantifiable outcome

• Global network of 200+ national member federations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MoltencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Since 2014, Molten has served as the official handball of the International Handball Federation. Molten supplies the official ball for all IHF-organized games including World Championships and Olympic Games. Founded in 1958, Molten is also the official basketball of FIBA and serves numerous national leagues worldwide with a network spanning more than 80 countries.
• GerflorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerflor is the official flooring supplier for IHF international handball competitions, providing Taraflex® Sports Flooring. With over 70 years of experience and 4000+ employees worldwide, Gerflor has supplied more than 75,000 gymnasiums and sport centres globally. Partnership extended until 2021 for sports flooring in international competitions.
• hummelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerhummel is a Danish sportswear brand founded in 1923 with deep roots in handball. Known as the original handball brand, hummel designs, produces and markets clothes, equipment, and handball-specific shoes and apparel for teams worldwide.
• SPORTFIVEcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSPORTFIVE is IHF's international sports business agency partner. Operating in 20 countries with over 1,200 local experts, SPORTFIVE delivers responsible commercialisation and full-service solutions for sports business, strategically connecting brands, rights-holders, media platforms, and fans.
• MIKASA CORPORATIONminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese manufacturer MIKASA CORPORATION is one of the ball manufacturers with IHF Seal of Approval, providing competition-quality sports balls meeting IHF international standards.
• TrialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian ball manufacturer Trial is certified with IHF Seal of Approval for producing handballs meeting IHF regulations.
• ASB GlassFloorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman company ASB Systembau Horst Babinsky GmbH provides glass sports flooring systems with integrated LED technology. Their LumiFlex flooring is certified by Fiba, FIVB, and IHF for top-level competition, used in arenas like Panathinaikos BC's Oaka Arena and Bayern Munich facilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FIFA: FIFA is the international governing body for association football, the direct analog to IHF as a single-sport IF setting global rules, organizing World Championships, and monetizing through broadcasting and sponsorship. Both are IOC-recognized federations operating with similar governance and revenue models.
• FIBA: FIBA governs basketball internationally with the same structural template as IHF: rules-setting, World Cup organization, IOC recognition, and commercial partnerships with equipment manufacturers. Highly comparable in scale, headcount, and revenue mix.
• World Rugby: World Rugby is the international federation for rugby union, with the same governance role over its sport as IHF. Comparable in organizing World Cups, commercializing broadcasting rights, and managing member national unions.
• FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball): FIVB governs volleyball and beach volleyball globally, directly comparable to IHF's dual indoor/beach model. Both federations share IOC recognition and a similar member-federation structure.
• IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation): IIHF governs ice hockey internationally, organizing World Championships and managing Olympic tournament participation. Structurally identical to IHF as an IF, with a similar lean operational footprint.
• World Athletics: World Athletics (formerly IAAF) governs track and field globally and operates the same IF model: rule-setting, World Championships organization, anti-doping compliance with WADA, and IOC-aligned commercial activities.
• International Hockey Federation (FIH): FIH governs field hockey internationally with indoor and outdoor variants, paralleling IHF's indoor and beach handball offerings. Similar in scale, IOC recognition, and federation structure.
• World Aquatics: World Aquatics (formerly FINA) governs aquatic sports globally and operates under the same IF template as IHF: rules, World Championships, anti-doping, broadcasting, and IOC recognition.
• BWF (Badminton World Federation): BWF governs badminton globally and is structurally equivalent to IHF as an IF with IOC recognition, World Championships organization, and member national federation governance.
• International Judo Federation: The IJF governs judo internationally, organizing World Championships and Olympic tournaments. Same IF business model as IHF, with comparable headcount scale and revenue mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/@ihfworldhandball?_t=8fFEU4CZBLS&_r=1
• Xx.com/ihf_info
• Facebookfacebook.com/ihf.info
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-handball-federation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Handball Federation