Consolation for Switzerland a day following their disappointing elimination in the quarter-finals of the world championship in Finland. As expected, the IIHF Congress awarded the 2026 edition to Switzerland.
After the cancellation of the 2020 world championship in Zurich and Lausanne due to the pandemic, it will be the 1st World Cup in Switzerland since 2009. At the time, the matches took place in Bern and Kloten. In 4 years, Zurich (with the new ice rink in Altstetten) and Friborg will be the host cities. The fact that the choice fell on Switzerland was ultimately only a formality, because the only adversary, Kazakhstan, had withdrawn its candidacy at the last minute.
“The Swiss candidacy for the organization of the 2026 world championship has fully convinced us“said IIHF President Luc Tardif in a statement.”Teams, fans, sponsors and media will once once more experience a perfectly organized World Cup thanks to state-of-the-art stadiums, short distances, a fantastic fan community and a convincing sustainable approach.“, added the Frenchman.
Zurich’s new ice rink (here in August 2021) will open this fall. [Michael Buholzer – Keystone]
The U18 World Cup in Switzerland next year
Switzerland will also organize the U18 World Championship in 2023. It will be the 3rd time following 2000 and 2015. The two competition venues have yet to be determined, which will be in northwestern Switzerland. The women’s edition of this same junior competition will also take place in Switzerland in 2024.
ats/btro