Germany Eyes Schalke Arena for 2027 Ice Hockey World Championship Opener

The Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen and Düsseldorf's football stadium are under consideration for the high-profile opening match.

The 2027 Ice Hockey World Championship will be hosted in Germany, with arenas in Mannheim and Düsseldorf confirmed as key venues.
Organizers are exploring the possibility of holding the opening match in a football stadium, with Gelsenkirchen's Veltins Arena and Düsseldorf as the two options.
The Veltins Arena, which features a fully closable roof, hosted a record-breaking ice hockey match in 2010 with 77,803 spectators.
Coordination with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and football scheduling is required before finalizing the venue for the opening game.
Düsseldorf will also host the 2025 World Championship warm-up game against the USA, marking its first ice hockey international match since 1986.