Twelve of the sixteen teams competing in the Men’s U19 WFC in Frederikshavn from April 26th – 30th 2023 are determined and ready.
The qualified teams are:
Czech Republic (EUR) – The Czech Republic are going to the WFC as two-time defending champions, after they first saw success in 2019 and followed it up with a home court title defence in Brno, 2021, where they beat Finland 4-3 in a thriller of a game, that saw the game winning goal being scored with 90 seconds left on the clock.
Finland (EUR) – Finland come into the tournament as silver medallists from 2021. They will be aiming to take the last step up the podium and replace silver with gold. They lost a squeaker of a game in the WFC final in 2021 and will be hungry for revenge.
Sweden (EUR) – Sweden is winningest team at the U19 WFC with 5 golds, 4 silvers and 1 bronze in the first 11 editions of the tournament. That being said, we have to go back to 2013 to find the latest Swedish gold medal, when they won it all in Hamburg. The swedes will undoubtedly be looking for the taste of gold again, after a nine-year absence. A long time to wait for one of the absolute top nations.
Switzerland (EUR) – To round off “The Big 4”, Switzerland is ready for the WFC as well. They are the only nation of the top four, that has never succeeded in winning gold, as they “only” have three silvers and three bronzes. They will surely be looking to change that fact when they arrive in Frederikshavn.
Slovakia (EUR) – Slovakia will, like all the other nations not named Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland, be looking their first medal at an U19 WFC. Back in Brno 2021, they placed seventh after beating Poland in the last game.
Latvia (EUR) – Latvia, like Slovakia, are just outside the top four and was in 2021 “the best of the rest”, when they placed fifth. The Latvians have yet to win a medal as well, but they have been knocking on the door a couple of times and seek to break the barrier to the promised land in Frederikshavn, 2023.
Germany (EUR) – Germany don’t have to travel all too far, to reach the destination for this year’s WFC. Count on the German fans to be in large numbers and easy to spot in the city. At the latest championship in 2021, they placed sixth and will be looking to improve on that.
Poland (EUR) – Poland is the lowest seeded team in the top 8, after they placed eight in Brno, losing the game for seventh place to Slovakia in a 4-6 thriller. The main focus will likely be to stay a top 8 nation and then play to improve on the eighth place.
Denmark (EUR) – Denmark is automatically qualified on the basis of being the host nation but is also the top seeded nation outside the top 8. The WFC in Brno saw Denmark place ninth. It will be a big experience for the Danes to play on home soil and make a show for the Danish fans and fans around the world.
USA (AMER) – USA will be the only team from the Americas, after beating Canada in two games. The two countries, well known for being a part of the elite in ice hockey, don’t have the same prowess in floorball, but the Americans have all to prove as the only team from the Americas.
Australia (AOFC) – Australia is going to Frederikshavn after beating New Zealand comfortably and drawing with Singapore in the AOFC qualifications. Since two out of the three would book tickets to the WFC, it was enough to secure entrance and the Australians will go the long way from home to the north.
Singapore (AOFC) – Singapore will be the only Asian country at the WFC and therefore also the only representative for Asian floorball when the tournament starts in the end of April, 2023. They secured their spot in the WFC after also beating New Zealand and drawing with Australia.
The eight top nations are automatically qualified based on their finish at the WFC in Brno, 2021. Denmark is the only nation from outside the top eight that is automatically qualified due to hosting the tournament.
From the Americas it will be USA going and from the Asian/Oceania region we will get the joy of watching Australia and Singapore represent the region, while New Zealand will hope to qualify for the 2025 edition of the Men’s U19 WFC.