[3] Four teams from each group qualified for the knockout rounds, and the winner and runner-up receiving gold and silver medals respectively.

The host country was guaranteed an entry in each event, as was the winner of the 2015 World Men's Handball Championship.

Four more spots were awarded to the winners of continental qualification tournaments for Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

These tournaments were open to the top six teams from the World Championship that had not already qualified as well as six entrants determined through a complex continental qualification algorithm.

[9] Germany pushed the lead to seven points after the third quarter, and eventually won the match 31-25 to win the bronze medal.

[12] Danish player Jannick Green "dreamt about one day making" the final, and the team "worked really hard and played well".

[12] The result put an end to the French period of dominance at the Olympics, having won the two prior events in 2008 and 2012.