Latvia to open 2027 World Championship against Finland

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has published the schedule for the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. The Latvian national team will open its tournament campaign in Germany on May 14 against the reigning world champions, Finland.

The 2027 World Championship will take place in Düsseldorf and Mannheim from May 14 to 30. Latvia will compete in Group A, with all preliminary-round games taking place at SAP Arena in Mannheim. Latvia’s opponents will be Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Germany, Slovenia and Austria.

All of Latvia’s preliminary-round games will be played in Mannheim. The Latvian national team will open the tournament with two games against top-ranked opponents – against the 2026 world champions Finland on May 14 and Sweden on May 16. On May 18, Latvia will face Switzerland, the 2026 World Championship runners-up.

Latvia’s final four preliminary-round games will be against Ukraine, Germany, Slovenia and Austria. These games will be particularly important in the race for a place in the quarter-finals, with several direct competitors for the playoff spots among Latvia’s opponents.

A total of 16 national teams will participate in the 2027 World Championship, divided into two groups of eight teams. The quarter-finals are scheduled for May 27, while the decisive games of the tournament – both semi-finals, the bronze medal game and the final – will be played in Düsseldorf.

2027 World Championship – Group A: Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Slovenia and Ukraine.

Group B: Canada, USA, Czechia, Slovakia, Denmark, Norway, Kazakhstan and Hungary.

Latvia’s 2027 World Championship Schedule

May 14, 20:20
Finland – Latvia

May 16, 12:20
Sweden – Latvia

May 18, 20:20
Latvia – Switzerland

May 21, 16:20
Latvia – Ukraine

May 22, 16:20
Latvia – Germany

May 24, 16:20
Slovenia – Latvia

May 25, 16:20
Latvia – Austria