Swiss women open Denmark world championship against USA on Friday, 6 November

Opening matches under a new format

The Swiss women start the world championship in Denmark on Friday, 6 November, against the United States, the reigning world and Olympic champions. Two days later, on Sunday, 8 November, they face Czech Republic, ranked third in the world, a side they have beaten only twice in their last 13 meetings. Their 7-0 quarterfinal defeat at the 2025 championship ended their medal hopes abruptly. After the opening weekend, the matches against neighbours Austria and Germany are expected to be decisive. Two wins are a must if Switzerland want to finish at least third in their group and avoid Canada, the record world champions, in the quarterfinal.

Medal hopes after Olympic bronze

In February the Swiss won bronze at the Olympic Games in Milan, a surprise that lifted them to fourth in the world rankings and raised expectations. Their only world championship medal remains the bronze from Burlington in 2012, 14 years ago. Since then they have repeatedly lost the bronze-medal game, and in each of the last two championships their run ended in the quarterfinal. Goalkeeper Andrea Brändli described the ambition in an interview with Sportpanorama.

“I think every athlete who goes to a big event wants to win a medal.”

A new format and a depleted squad

The tournament has moved from April to November, and the format has changed with it. Previously one group was clearly stronger, with all five of its teams qualified for the quarterfinals before the first puck was dropped. Now the two groups are of equal strength, and four of five teams in each advance. The timing follows the North American women's league PWHL, which pauses for its playoffs in spring. Captain Lara Stalder, a 32-year-old forward with 217 caps, is out with a knee injury until the end of the year. Alessia Baechler, 21, said it had 'not been easy for all of us'. Shannon Miller, a 62-year-old Canadian, is coaching her first world championship for Switzerland, succeeding Colin Muller after the Olympics. The Swiss won their first games against Finland and Sweden, but then took only one win from their next seven matches, scoring six goals in those games.

Neighbours Austria and Germany

Austria, promoted and playing at the top level of a world championship for the first time, open on Saturday, 7 November, against Germany in Esbjerg at 19:00. Austrian goalkeeper Selma Luggin says things have turned out well after the dispute within the federation, and she states the aim plainly.

“Our goal is the world championship quarterfinal.”

Germany finished third in their weaker group at the 2025 championship and lost 0-3 to the United States in the first knockout round. Captain Daria Gleißner, 33, said ahead of the opener:

“I believe we are capable of anything.”

Germany have reached the quarterfinal in five of the last six championships and the semifinal only once, in 2017. Laura Kluge, who plays for Boston Fleet, was the top German scorer at the Olympics with three goals and four assists in five games. Goalkeeper Sandra Abstreiter won the Walter Cup with Montréal Victoire in May.

Russia debate overshadows the tournament

A ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) at the end of October has stirred debate, as the return of Russian women and men, banned since 2022, appears to be emerging. Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway and Latvia have said they will not play against Russia while the war in Ukraine continues. Canada, which hosts the under-20 world championship in December and January, has said it will not issue visas to Russian athletes for that event. Several main sponsors have threatened to withdraw. The German Ice Hockey Federation is considering handing back the men's world championship planned for Germany in 2027, and the IIHF must now clarify how it will implement the ruling.