IIHF men's worlds begin May 15 in Switzerland

The IIHF Men’s World Championship opened in Switzerland on Friday, with games starting in Zurich and Fribourg and the gold-medal game scheduled for May 31 in Zurich. The tournament runs from May 15 to May 31 and features 16 national teams playing 64 games, according to the International Ice Hockey Federation. Team USA arrived as defending champion after beating Switzerland in overtime in the 2025 final, while Canada entered with its first world title since 2023 still to chase. ### Which games opened the tournament on Friday? Friday’s opening slate began with Finland against Germany at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich and Canada against Sweden at BCF Arena in Fribourg, both at 16:20 local time. The evening schedule then had the United States facing Switzerland in Zurich and Czechia meeting Denmark in Fribourg at 20:20 local time, according to the IIHF schedule page. (iihf.com) The IIHF published the schedule in August 2025 and said the opening day included a rematch of the previous year’s gold-medal game when the United States met Switzerland. Zurich is hosting Group A games, two quarterfinals, both semifinals, and the bronze- and gold-medal games, while Fribourg is hosting Group B games and two quarterfinals. (iihf.com) ### How is the field divided between Zurich and Fribourg? Group A in Zurich includes the United States, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Hungary and Great Britain. Group B in Fribourg includes Canada, Sweden, Czechia, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway, Slovenia and Italy, the IIHF said when it announced the groups. The 2026 championship is being staged in Switzerland for the first time in 17 years, according to the IIHF organizing committee. (iihf.com) The federation and local organizers have said the short rail trip between Zurich and Fribourg was part of the event planning for teams and fans moving between the two host cities. ### Which NHL and Olympic names are in the tournament? (iihf.com) Olympics.com said at least 23 Olympians on NHL teams were named to preliminary rosters for the tournament. Its preview highlighted Matthew Tkachuk for the United States and said he was the only member of the U.S. Olympic gold-medal team selected for this world championship. (iihf.com) Sidney Crosby was added to Canada’s roster this week, Olympics.com reported, joining Macklin Celebrini and John Tavares on the Canadian side. The same report said Canada opens against Sweden on Friday in Fribourg. Olympics.com also said players returning from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games include stars spread across several national teams. (olympics.com) Its tournament preview named Crosby, Celebrini and Tkachuk among the players headed to Switzerland three months after the Olympics. ### Why are the United States and Canada drawing extra attention? (olympics.com) Team USA entered the event as the reigning world champion after its overtime win over Switzerland in the 2025 final, the IIHF said in its group announcement for 2026. Olympics.com said the Americans are also the reigning Olympic champions after beating Canada in overtime at the Milano Cortina Games earlier in 2026. (olympics.com) Canada, which has a record 28 men’s world titles, last won the tournament in 2023, according to Olympics.com. In a preview published this week, Olympics.com framed Canada’s run in Switzerland around whether it could return to the top after recent losses to the United States on the Olympic stage and a quarterfinal exit at the 2025 worlds. (iihf.com) ### What comes next in the schedule? Saturday, May 16, brings six more preliminary-round games, including Hungary against Finland and Italy against Canada in the late afternoon, plus Switzerland against Latvia and Slovenia against Czechia in the evening. The United States returns on May 17 against Great Britain in Zurich, while Canada’s next game after Sweden is against Italy on May 16 in Fribourg. (olympics.com) May 31 is the final date on the IIHF schedule, with Zurich set to host the medal games after the semifinals. Live schedules, results and team listings are posted on the IIHF tournament site for Zurich and Fribourg. (iihf.com)