Dmytro Khorykha cleared to play for North Macedonia

On 15 October 2026 the president of the Handball Federation, Aleksandar Stefanov, announced at a press conference that Dmytro Khorykha has been granted permission to represent North Macedonia.

Stefanov said the clearance comes after Khorykha obtained a Macedonian passport and received formal recognition from the International Handball Federation (IHF) one month ago; the IHF decision is effective immediately. Stefanov added that the final step is the national coach’s decision whether to include him in the squad for the Euro 2028 qualifiers.

“Officially, Dmytro Khorykha is a new member of the Macedonian national team, of course if the selector calls him. You know that he recently obtained a Macedonian passport, a month ago he also received official recognition from the IHF, that decision takes effect immediately and I hope that he will join us already for the upcoming qualifiers. I think we are getting a handball player who will add weight and make a big contribution, he is in the zenith of his career and we hope that with him we will gain quality and that he will also contribute to better results in the future,” Stefanov said.

Coach: useful in rotation, but integration will take time

Head coach Kiril Lazarov described Khorykha as a ready-made option to strengthen the squad’s depth. Lazarov mentioned the player’s previous achievements in domestic and club competition and underlined his winning mentality.

“If a chance like this is offered to North Macedonia it must be used so we can have a more competitive team. Khorykha had excellent performances for our country, one of the main leaders in winning the championship title with Vardar. He has an excellent role at Pick Szeged, appears as a player in the Champions League, he is at a good age. He has a winning mentality and will fight for victory. Additionally, we will be slightly more qualified. I know it will take time for him to fit in. The captain Kuzmanovski has been informed and is aware that for good results we need as many top players in the squad as possible, especially at major tournaments where games are played every two days,” Lazarov said at the press conference.

Stefanov and Lazarov both signalled that, while administrative hurdles are cleared, Khorykha’s actual involvement will depend on the coach’s selection and on how quickly the newcomer adapts to the national setup ahead of the qualifying campaign.

Photo: press material from the event