The 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany returns to a special venue: At the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, which seats 61,574 spectators, Team Germany will open the tournament on Thursday, May 13, 2027, against the current world runner-up, Switzerland. The first puck drops at 8:20 p.m.
Seventeen years after the 2010 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, the VELTINS-Arena will once again serve as the venue for an opening game of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. In the legendary 2010 opening game, Germany defeated Team USA 2–1 in overtime.
With the announcement of the opening game, the first ticket sales phase for the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany also begins. Starting Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 12 p.m., fans can secure their first tickets. The following tickets will be available at the start of sales:
- Tickets for the opening game in Gelsenkirchen
- VIP Venue Packages (All Games)
- Match Day Packages for the Quarterfinals
- Final Round Packages in Düsseldorf (semifinals, bronze medal game, and gold medal game)
Tickets starting at 39 euros are available through the official ticket platform for the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany: 2027.iihfworlds.com/tickets
Fan Information for the Opening Game in Gelsenkirchen
Team Germany’s official fan section is located in the North Curve of the VELTINS Arena. Sections V and W are reserved for fans of the Swiss national team.
Upcoming Ticket Sales Phases
Ticket sales will take place in several phases. The complete schedule will be published in September 2026. That is also when official advance sales of multi-game packages will begin. Single tickets will be available starting in February 2027.
More information on the various hospitality packages will be available later this summer.
In addition, fans can register now to receive early information about the start of advance ticket sales for day packages in September and to secure exclusive ticketing benefits: 2027.iihfworlds.com/register
