Zurich, 30 May 2026

Host nation Switzerland will take on surprise package Norway in the semifinal of the Ice Hockey World Championship in Zurich on Saturday.

The Swiss advanced by defeating Sweden 3-1 in the quarterfinal, their first knockout-stage victory over the Swedes at a World Championship after eight previous defeats. Norway secured its semifinal berth with a 2-0 shutout of Latvia, marking the country’s first appearance in the top four since 1951.

Switzerland has been dominant throughout the tournament, averaging 5.25 goals per game and recording two 9-0 group-stage wins against Austria and Hungary. The team remains the clear favorite heading into the matchup, which is scheduled for 15:20 local time.

Norway’s historic run

Norway’s path to the semifinal has been equally remarkable. Victories over Sweden and the Czech Republic, plus a point against Canada in the preliminary round, lifted the Norwegians to second place in their group behind the Canadians. The quarterfinal win over Latvia extended a story that Norwegian newspaper VG described euphorically: “First, Norway plays the semifinal at the Ice Hockey World Championship.”

Jan Cadieux characterized Norway’s style of play as “einfach, aber intensiv” – simple, but intense. The Norwegian roster features several young talents drafted into the NHL in recent years, including Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Stian Solberg, both first-round selections in 2024.

Forward Tinus Luc Koblar, 18, has collected six goals and three assists in eight games and leads his team with a plus-8 rating. Noah Steen, 21, also has six goals and holds a contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Goaltender Henrik Haukeland, who plays for Straubing in Germany, posted a 95.97 save percentage in the quarterfinal, the second-best mark among all tournament goaltenders.

Swiss lineup change

Switzerland will be without forward Timo Meier, who was suspended for the semifinal following a check against Sweden’s Oskar Sundqvist in the quarterfinal. Pius Suter replaces Meier in the lineup, the only change from the team that played on Thursday.

Swiss forward Calvin Thürkauf, who scored in the quarterfinal, emphasized the team’s physical approach. “We are a team that accepts the battles, nobody is afraid of a hard duel. That is what sets us apart,” he said. Thürkauf added: “We respect every opponent.”

The other semifinal

The second semifinal, scheduled for 20:00, will see Canada face Finland. Canada advanced with a dominant 4-0 victory over USA, led by superstar Sidney Crosby. The final and the third-place match are set for Sunday in Zurich.

In other tournament news, the IIHF Congress awarded the 2030 World Championship to Helsinki and Riga. The decision was announced during the championship in Zurich.