Champions Göppingen into EHF Cup Round 3; Challenge Cup participation expands to 40

Champions Göppingen into EHF Cup Round 3; Challenge Cup participation expands to 40

Men’s EHF Cup champions Frisch Auf Göppingen will wait until November to begin their title defence this coming season as they were confirmed among the 16 teams placed in Qualification Round 3 of the competition.

The European Handball Federation has released the playing systems and seeding lists for the 2017/18 editions of the EHF Cup and Challenge Cup, with a total of103 teams set to play a part in one of the two competitions.

30 teams will enter the EHF Cup in Qualification Round 1 (played on 2/3 and 9/10 September); the fifteen winners will join 17 teams which have been seeded for Round 2 (7/8 and 14/15 October).

The 16 winners will then take on the likes 2016 EHF Cup bronze medallists Frainkin BM Granollers, VELUX EHF Champions League regulars Bjerringbro-Silkeborg and BM Logrono La Rioja and all four of last season’s LIQUI MOLY EHF Cup Finals participants (Göppingen, Berlin, Magdeburg and St. Raphael Var) in Qualification Round 3 on 18/19 and 25/26 November for a spot in the group phase.

Rounds 1 and 2 will be drawn on 18 July at the EHF Office in Vienna, the ties for Round 3 will be discovered on 17 October.

Download the full Men's EHF Cup playing system and seeding list here.

40 teams have entered the race for the Men’s Challenge Cup this season, up from 32 the previous year.

Defending champions Sporting CP of Portugal will be competing in the VELUX EHF Champions League Qualification Tournament, but runners-up Potaissa Turda of Romania are registered.

16 clubs will enter the fray in Round 2 (played on 7/8 and 14/15 October), while the 24 remaining teams await in Round 3 (18/19 and 25/26 November).

The draw for both rounds will take place on 18 July at the EHF Office.

Download the full Men's Challenge Cup playing system and seeding list here.