Puerto Rico were runners-up the last time the tournament was held in 2019 and champions in 2017, and will again feature in the gold-medal match after a 29-24 victory against Mexico at the Centre of Elgin in the Illinois city. 

That followed a 28-20 win against the United States in their first match, and moved them on to four points, which means they cannot finish outside the top two of the four-team round-robin.

Bronze medallists in 2019 Greenland will also contest the final as they saw off the US.

After a close first half in which Greenland led 11-10, they then took charge after the restart and finished as 28-18 winners, following a 33-27 triumph over Mexico in their first match.

Lykke Frank Hansen was Greenland’s leading scorer with nine goals in the match.

Greenland also have four points, and will play Puerto Rico tomorrow in their final round-robin match, which will serve as a warm-up for the final on Wednesday (August 25). 

The US, whose preparations for the tournament were hampered on Saturday (August 21) when an unnamed team member tested positive for COVID-19, will play Mexico in their final round-robin fixture with both sides looking for their first points of the championship in a precursor to Wednesday’s third-place match between the pair.

The winners of the Championship will qualify for the International Handball Federation Women’s World Championship in Spain this December.