Ice Hockey World Championship 2026 kicks off in Switzerland with Germany in Group A
Switzerland hosts the Ice Hockey World Championship 2026 beginning May 15, with 16 teams competing for the title in Zurich and Fribourg. The tournament opener sees defending champions the United States return to defend the crown, while hosts Switzerland aim to secure their first world title on home ice.
Hosts and opening
The Ice Hockey World Championship 2026 opens on May 15 in Switzerland, staged across two venues in Zurich and Fribourg. Organisers expect full arenas as the Swiss, who reached the last two finals, seek a maiden world championship in front of home crowds.
The United States arrive as titleholders after breaking a long championship drought last year, and the tournament format will see 16 teams split into two groups of eight for round-robin play. The top four from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, setting up a condensed knockout phase late in the month.
Group A in Zurich: composition and stakes
Group A, based at the Swiss Life Arena in Zurich, includes the United States, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Hungary and Great Britain. That lineup places several heavyweights together and ensures a competitive group stage in Zurich.
Each team plays seven group games, with Germany facing Finland on May 15 at 16:20 CEST and later meeting hosts Switzerland on May 18 at 20:20 CEST. The tight schedule leaves little margin for error for teams chasing a top-four finish.
Germany’s schedule and objectives
Germany’s national team, coached by Harold Kreis, has set a clear objective: reach the quarterfinals. Germany will play all its preliminary matches in Zurich, beginning with the May 15 fixture against Finland and concluding the group stage on May 25 against Great Britain at 20:20 CEST.
The full German group schedule also includes matches versus Latvia (May 17, 20:20 CEST), Switzerland (May 18, 20:20 CEST), the United States (May 20, 20:20 CEST), Hungary (May 22, 16:20 CEST) and Austria (May 23, 20:20 CEST). Kreis has acknowledged roster absences from some NHL stars but remains committed to the quarterfinal target.
German roster and key players
Bundestrainer Harold Kreis named a 25-player squad for the Ice Hockey World Championship 2026 anchored by captain Moritz Seider. The roster blends established internationals such as Dominik Kahun with five first-time world championship participants: Dominik Bokk, Samuel Dove-McFalls, Phillip Sinn, Jonas Stettmer and Marcus Weber.
Germany’s goaltending corps features Maximilian Franzreb of Adler Mannheim and NHL netminder Philipp Grubauer, supported by debutant Jonas Stettmer. On the blue line, Seider leads a group that includes Leon Gawanke, Eric Mik and Fabio Wagner, while the forward lines mix domestic league talent and players with international club experience.
Venues and tournament infrastructure
The Swiss Life Arena in Zurich will host Group A games and can hold up to 12,000 spectators, serving as the home of the ZSC Lions during the tournament. In Fribourg, the BCF-Arena—home to HC Fribourg-Gottéron—provides seating for around 9,372 fans and will stage Group B matches and later knockout fixtures.
This marks the eleventh time Switzerland has hosted the world championship, a testament to the country’s established hockey infrastructure and fan base. Organisers completed final venue preparations in the days leading up to the opening, focusing on spectator services, broadcast facilities and team logistics.
Broadcasting and viewing options
German viewers can watch all matches involving the national team live on free-to-air channel ProSieben, which will also show at least one quarterfinal, two semifinals and the final. ProSieben Maxx will air a selection of seven standout group games and an additional quarterfinal match from the tournament.
Pay services will supplement free broadcasts: MagentaSport will stream Germany’s games and additional highlights, while the international streaming service sporteurope.tv is offering full tournament coverage via a turnierpass priced at €15. Broadcasters are providing a mix of linear and digital coverage to reach fans domestically and abroad.
The tournament’s compact schedule and high-profile matchups promise intense competition through late May, and Germany’s campaign in Zurich will be watched closely as the team seeks to convert domestic momentum into a deep run at the Ice Hockey World Championship 2026.
