IIHF World Junior Championship 2027 Teams: Full list & groups
Ten nations will participate in the IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton. The teams will be divided into two groups. Each group has 5 Teams. All games will be hosted in two cities, Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta.
| Data | Info |
|---|---|
| Total Teams | 10 |
| Groups | 2 Groups (A & B) |
| Host Nation | Canada |
| Group A Venue | Marchant Crane Centrium |
| Group B Venue | Rogers Place, Edmonton |
| Defending Champion | Sweden |
| Group Status | Provisional |
| Last Update | Recently |
In this tournament, Sweden enters as a defending champion after winning a gold medal in Minneapolis last year. This IIHF World Junior Championship 2027 Teams guide explains each team, its group, and key aspects of the tournament. View the 2027 WJC roster hub with all 10 projected rosters.
World Junior Championship 2027 Teams – Group A
This group includes the defending champion and four nations with remarkable recent performances. Sweden, Finland, and the United States have collectively won numerous medals in previous editions.
Germany
Germany secured its place in 2027 by winning the relegation game in the previous edition. They defeated Denmark by 8-4. The team is known for its physical style and disciplined structure.
United States
The United States participates in the IIHF World Championship under the leadership of Adam Nightingale of Michigan State. Nightingale brings extensive experience from Hockey USA to his debut as head coach.
Slovakia
Slovakia competes in Group A under the leadership of head coach Peter Frühauf and team manager Tomáš Pšenka. It is known for producing skilled players. Consistent development has allowed them to remain competitive against much larger hockey nations.
Sweden
Sweden enters the 2027 WJC as a defending champion after winning the gold medal in last year’s edition. Sweden will look to become back-to-back champions for the first time.
Finland
Finland enters the 2027 World Junior Championship as one of the most respected programs in international junior hockey. It is known for its structured style of play and elite player development system.
Group B Teams
This Group includes 5 teams with different histories and current form in the World Junior Championship. Canada appears in this group as a Tournament host country, joined by four strong European rivals. This group includes Canada, Norway, Latvia, Czechia, and Switzerland.
Norway
Norway is back in the top division after winning Division I Group A. This promotion follows Denmark’s relegation, giving Norway a new opportunity to compete at the highest level.
Latvia
Latvia enters 2027 after reaching the quarterfinals at the recent World Junior Championships. Their consistent progress over the past decade makes them a tough opponent.
Czechia
The Czech Republic enters the 2027 edition with a silver medal from the 2026 tournament. Their defeat in the final against Sweden (4-2) only boosted their motivation this year.
Canada
Canada is participating in the tournament as the host nation, under the leadership of its new head coach, Misha Donskov. Former NHL star Ryan Getzlaf joins the team as an assistant coach and will be making his international debut.
Switzerland
Switzerland begins 2027 with steady progress after an excellent run in the preliminary stages of 2026. Group B will test its capabilities this year against tougher opponents.
Defending Champion
Sweden arrives in Edmonton as the defending champion. In 2026, they defeated the Czech Republic with a score of 4-2. This victory increased their title count. They won the championship in 1981, 2012, and 2026. Sweden will try to win back-to-back championships in this tournament.
How Teams Qualified for the IIHF World Junior Championship 2027
Team placement for WJC 2027 depends on the final standings of the previous tournament. Top-performing teams take their position, while lower teams face relegation. Norway was promoted to the top division after winning the Division I Group A tournament last December. Meanwhile, Denmark was relegated from the top division based on its 2026 ranking.
Possible Group Exchange – What That Means
Tournament organizers may swap two teams of the same ranking before the competition begins. They used the same option in the 2026 World Junior Championship when the Canadian team moved to Group B.
Top Teams to Watch in Tournament
Past Winners of WJC
Canada and Russia have won the most titles in IIHF World Junior Championship history. Sweden also joined that elite group after winning three titles. See the complete year-by-year list of every champion on our World Juniors past winners page.
Conclusion
In Conclusion, ten teams participate in the tournament. All teams are divided into two Groups (A & B). Group A included Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United States. They will play their preliminary matches at Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer.
Group B Included Canada, Czechia, Latvia, Norway, and Switzerland. They will play their preliminary round games at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Sweden enters the tournament as a defending champion.