Embassy recep­tion for the national team in Zurich

"We do this every year, this visit to the embassy or to the business delegation here in Zurich. It's a nice appreciation and we always look forward to this appointment. This is a bit like the start of the World Championship," reveals captain Peter Schneider. The Austrian embassy itself is based in the capital Bern, so they were invited to the premises of the Austrian business delegation in Zurich.

In his welcome speech, Ambassador Markus Wuketich praised Austria's achievements in recent years, highlighted Austria's improved image abroad, emphasized the importance of the interaction between politics, business and sport and wished the national team much success for the upcoming World Championship.

A key partner at this meeting was "Refocus Austria", a global economic initiative launched in September 2021 as part of the federal government's comeback plan for economic reconstruction during and after the pandemic. As part of the campaign, the over 100 Austrian representative authorities of the Foreign Ministry organize tailor-made events and activities abroad as Team Austria together with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and other federal ministries, the foreign trade department of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and Austrian Advertising. In the first year of ReFocus Austria alone, over 300 events and projects were held in around 85 countries on six continents. 

Partners and business people also came to the reception. Patrick Sagmeister, Austria's economic delegate to Switzerland, presented the campaign through strategic visit diplomacy, networking meetings, company visits or meetings with local decision-makers abroad, Austria is presented as an attractive business location and tourism destination and promotes the expertise of top domestic companies. 

Opening against Great Britain on Saturday

The 2026 World Championship will officially open on Friday with the games Finland vs. Germany and USA vs. Switzerland in Zurich and Canada vs. Sweden and Czech Republic vs. Denmark in Fribourg. Austria enters the tournament on Saturday against Great Britain. The main goal is to avoid relegation.

Peter Schneider: "We do the sport for the games, especially for games like the World Championship. So we're really looking forward to it finally starting."

2026 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

May 15, 2026 - May 31, 2026, Zurich and Fribourg (SUI)
Defending champions: USA
Group A, Zurich: USA, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Hungary, Great Britain
Group B, Fribourg: Canada, Sweden, Czech Republic, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway, Slovenia, Italy

Schedule
Great Britain vs. Austria
Sat., May 16, 2026, 12:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Live on ORF 1

Austria vs. Hungary
Sun., May 17, 2026, 4:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Live on ORF SPORT+, live on ORF 1 from 5:00 p.m

Latvia vs. Austria
Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 4:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Live on ORF 1

Austria vs. Switzerland
Wed., May 20, 2026, 4:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Live on ORF 1

Austria vs. Germany
Sat., May 23, 2026, 8:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Live on ORF SPORT+

Finland vs. Austria
Sun., May 24, 2026, 8:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Live on ORF SPORT+

USA vs. Austria
Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 4:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Live on ORF 1

Ticketing
Information about World Championship ticket sales 2026.iihfworlds.com
Link to World Championship tickets for Zurich and Fribourg 
Link to individual games with Austria 
Link to World Championship packages with the Austria games