Fourteen teams step onto the court in Riga today as the qualification tournament for the 2027 Women’s World Floorball Championship gets underway, with host Latvia headlining the EUR 3 qualifying group at the Team Sports Games Hall, Sportacentrs.com reported.
The qualification cycle divides participating European nations into two pools across four days of competition. Group C features national teams from Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Meanwhile, Latvia competes in Group D alongside Denmark, France, and Great Britain.
Every team plays three matches within their respective group under a round-robin format. Four total qualification berths are available for the final tournament, which is scheduled to take place at the end of next year in Turku, Finland. Group winners secure direct entry, while additional spots are decided through playoff matches between second- and third-place finishers on the final day of competition.
Head coach Remārs Vikānis selected a 20-player roster consisting of two goaltenders and 18 outfield players. Thirteen selected athletes compete domestically in the Latvian Floorball Championship Virslīga, while seven play abroad in foreign leagues across Finland, Switzerland, and Germany, according to Sportacentrs.com.
The domestic league representation is led by reigning national champions Rīgas “NND/RJTC” with five players. Cēsis club “Lekrings” and Kocēni club “Rubene” each contributed four players to the national selection.
The coaching staff made one roster adjustment following the initial announcement, replacing Switzerland-based Madlēna Rozīte with Kocēni player Marta Drille. Seventeen squad members bring previous senior national team experience from past world championship cycles, while Sanija Ramona Ābeltiņa, Evelīna Barka, and Dārta Malkava make their debut at this level of international competition.
The broader staff supporting the team includes coach Ivars Jēkabsons, physical preparation coach Kaspars Reikmanis, physiotherapist Mārcis Hunčaks, medical officer Lilita Lazdiņa, equipment manager Arsenijs Potapovs, and team manager Dace Grizāne.
Latvia opens its group stage campaign tonight against Great Britain, faces France on Tuesday, and concludes round-robin play against Denmark on Thursday. All three of Latvia’s matches are scheduled for 19.00 local time (UTC+2). Matches on November 14 will determine final standings and qualification outcomes based on group stage results.
Spectator tickets for the four-day event are available exclusively online through the official ticketing platform Bezrindas. The complete match schedule at the Team Sports Games Hall includes opening-day fixtures between the Netherlands and Norway at 10.00, Belgium and Sweden at 13.00, and Denmark and France at 16.00 before the evening host fixture.
The schedule for November 12 features Norway against Belgium at 10.00, Denmark against Great Britain at 13.00, Sweden against the Netherlands at 16.00, and France against Latvia at 19.00. Play on November 13 includes the Netherlands facing Belgium at 10.00, France playing Great Britain at 13.00, Norway meeting Sweden at 16.00, and Latvia closing the group stage against Denmark at 19.00.
The final day on November 14 opens with the seventh-place playoff between the fourth-place finishers of Group D and Group C at 10.00, followed by qualification matches at 13.00 between the second-place team of Group C and the third-place team of Group D, and at 16.00 between the second-place team of Group D and the third-place team of Group C, concluding with the tournament final between the winners of Group C and Group D at 19.00.
Worth a look
- Said El Mala Calls Bayer Leverkusen’s Conduct “Ridiculous” After Köln Loss
- Joey Saputo Begins Sale Process for CF Montréal
- German Women’s Ice Hockey Team Reaches World Championship Quarterfinals After Penalty Shootout Win Over Czechia (archyde.com)
- Stray Kids announces 2027 Run It world tour with Lee Know missing US legs (newsarchyuk.com)
