2017 World Cup opening match between Germany and the USA – 78,000 fans watched the match in Gelsenkirchen
Photo: Monika Skolimowska/ dpa
Ten years after the World Cup tournament in Cologne and Paris, Germany will once again host an Ice Hockey World Championship in May 2027. In the vote in Tampere, Finland, the decision was clearly in favour of the German bid with the venues Mannheim and Düsseldorf.
102 votes, or 75 percent, went to the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB). Only 34 votes, or 25 percent, went to Kazakhstan as the only competitor who wanted to bring an ice hockey world championship to Asia for the first time.
After the surprising semi-finals with the chance to win the first German World Championship medal in 70 years at the current World Championships in Latvia and Finland, the decision for the DEB is the next piece of good news.
Germany was considered the favorite to host the World Cup in four years, and on Thursday the two possible hosts presented their concepts at the World Federation Congress. "This is a milestone for the DEB," said DEB President Peter Merten.
Opening match back in football stadium?
It is still unclear whether the opening match will take place in a football stadium. That was the case at the home World Cup in 2010. At that time, there was a world record with around 2,1 spectators when Germany beat the USA 78-000 after extra time in Gelsenkirchen.
"All further discussions will take place in the event of an award. But it's no secret that we would like to repeat that, that we had talks with Schalke and Düsseldorf," DEB Secretary General Claus Gröbner said.
Most recently, Germany hosted a World Cup together with France in 2017. In 2024, the World Cup will take place in the Czech Republic with the venues Prague and Ostrava, and in 2025 it will be awarded to Sweden and Denmark with the venues Stockholm and Herning. Switzerland will host the 2026 World Cup.
vgl/dpa