Finland wants to defend its title. © APA/afp / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND

Who will stop Finland? Everything about the Ice Hockey World Cup

The Ice Hockey World Championships begin in Finland and Latvia on Friday. In the absence of Italy's national team, which was relegated last year, we clarify the most important questions in advance.

09 May 2023

From: dpa/leo

Where is the game played?

The World Cup will be held in Tampere, Finland and Riga, Latvia. The final weekend with the semi-finals, the game for third place and the final will take place on the Pentecost weekend in Tampere.


What is the mode?

The preliminary round is played in two groups of eight. The best four teams from both groups qualify for the quarterfinals. The last two from each group have to take part in the B World Cup next year.

Canada wants to bounce back from last year's final defeat. © APA/afp / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND

Who are the favorites?

The top favorite is host Finland. The Scandinavians have won two of the last three World Championships, finishing second once. In addition, coach Jukka Jalonen's team became Olympic champions last year. The Swedes, record world champions Canada and the Czech Republic also have good chances.


Which stars are there?

Like every year, some top players are still active in the playoffs of the North American professional league NHL. Nevertheless, there are a number of prominent names there. Among the Finns, striker Mikko Rantanen from last year's Stanley Cup winner Colorado stands out. The Swedes also have a lot of stars to choose from with 113 NHL players. Top talent Lucas Raymond's participation in the World Cup has been confirmed so far. His team colleague from Detroit, Moritz Seider, also gives the German selection a bit of glamor. The 22-year-old was voted the best defender of the World Cup in 2021. The US squad includes two-time Stanley Cup champion Nick Bonino, who is also well known in South Tyrol.

One of the biggest stars: Mikko Rantanen © APA / STEPH CHAMBERS

What else is important at the World Cup?

This World Cup will decide direct Olympic qualification for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan. To be safe, a nation must be in the top eight in the world rankings after the World Cup. If this does not succeed, you would have to play a qualifying tournament in August 2024. On the sidelines of the World Cup, the 2027 World Cup, for which Germany is applying, will also be awarded. The competitor is Kazakhstan, Germany is the favorite. There is also a renewed debate about how to deal with Russia and Belarus. Both nations are excluded from world championships because of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. The Scandinavian countries in particular want it to stay that way.