Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, each local health department dictated the number of spectators allowed at a given match.

The teams were paired against each other in two-legged home-and-away matches, with the aggregate winners qualifying to the next round.

[2] A total of 24 teams from 16 countries submitted their application for a place in the competition's group stage before the deadline of 10 June 2020.

[3] The final list of 16 participants was revealed by the EHF Executive Committee on 19 June.

[6] In each group, teams play against each other in a double round-robin format, with home and away matches.