2026 Ice Hockey World Championship: Sweden, Canada, and Switzerland Finalize Rosters; Celebrini Shines in Friendly
Where things stand
Updated May 13, 09:38 AMThe 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship opens today, May 15, in Fribourg and Zürich, Switzerland, with Sweden facing Canada at 20:20 in Group B. Sweden has a young team featuring future stars Anton Frondell and Ivar Stenberg. Canada is captained by Macklin Celebrini and will also ice NHL veterans Mark Scheifele, John Tavares, Morgan Rielly, and Ryan O'Reilly. Host Switzerland features Roman Josi and Timo Meier on home ice. Newly promoted Great Britain competes in Group A against the USA, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Austria, and Hungary. The tournament runs through May 31, with all matches broadcast by Viaplay.
Open questions
- What are the complete rosters for Sweden, Canada, and Switzerland?
- Which other teams are in Group B with Sweden and Canada?
- How will Sweden's young lineup perform against Canada's more experienced NHL roster?
- What is the status of other notable NHL players (e.g., Connor McDavid, Aleksander Barkov) for this tournament?
- What are the full broadcast details for viewers outside of Sweden?
Key actors
What's corroborated
Sweden will start the tournament with a match against Canada on May 15 at 20:20.
6 sourcesAustria has announced its roster for the 2025 IIHF World Championship.
5 sourcesThe 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship will be played in Fribourg and Zürich.
3 sourcesacross 1 articleSweden appears to have a young team with future stars like Anton Frondell and Ivar Stenberg.
3 sourcesacross 1 articleThe tournament will take place from May 15 to May 31, 2026.
3 sources
Timeline20
2026-05-15: Sweden announces final World Championship roster with 11 NHL players and 13 debutants, including five from the World Juniors.
2026-05-15: Czech Republic announces World Championship roster; NHL forward Adam Klapka omitted.
2026-05-15: Peter Forsberg reveals he gave advice to Sweden's coach Sam Hallam, drawing on his father's 1998 World Championship gold turnaround.
2026-05-15: Isac Hedqvist dropped from Sweden's World Championship roster two days before opener vs Canada.
2026-05-13: Slovakia announces World Championship roster, including SHL-experienced players and two NHL players.
2026-05-13: Italy announces World Championship roster, featuring Swedish-born Mikael Frycklund.
2026-05-13: Denmark announces World Championship roster, including SHL players Frederik Dichow and Mikkel Aagaard.
2026-05-12: Mattias Ekholm confirms he has resolved his conflict with coach Sam Hallam and will join Sweden's World Championship team.
2026-05-15: A previously rejected Malmö junior player and the equipment manager are added to Sweden's World Championship traveling party, per Sydsvenskan.
2026-05-15: Jacob de la Rose named to Sweden's World Championship roster, per Arvika Nyheter.
2026-05-11: Sweden announces preliminary World Championship squad, including Lucas Raymond, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Mattias Ekholm, Ivar Stenberg, and Viggo Björck.
2026-05-11: Austria announces its World Championship roster, including Swedish-born forward Henrik Neubauer.
2026-05-11: Lucas Raymond accepts invitation to play for Sweden at the World Championship, per Hockeysverige.
2026-05-10: Canada beats France 6-1 in a pre-World Championship friendly; Celebrini scores 1 goal and 3 assists.
2026-05-04: Hockeysverige reiterates Fribourg and Zürich as host cities and Sweden vs Canada as the opening game on May 15.
2026-04-28: Hockeysverige confirms Roman Josi to play for Switzerland at the World Championship.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson is reported to play for Sweden at the 2026 World Championship, per Smålandsposten.
Great Britain announces its roster for the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship, per Hockeysverige.