Ida Sundberg (Norway) and Hannah Gotze (Germany)
After an amazing WFC 2024 in Sweden where we saw some great games and surprises, we are back in 2025 with great energy to follow floorball again more closely! And guess who is back?! EXACTLY – WFC QUALIFIERS FOR LADIES! If your first thought was that FloorballToday is back, technically, you are also right!
But as we approach the qualifiers, we thought it would be nice to remind you of how entertaining and interesting they will be!
The 2025 Women’s World Floorball Championships
The Women’s World Floorball Championships in 2025 will take place in Brno and Ostrava, Czechia. However, before that, we have exciting qualifiers to look forward to. At the EUR1 event in Latvia, the Valmieras Olympic Centre in Valmiera will host the Qualifiers. Meanwhile, EUR2 will be held in Italy at the same venue as before: Palazzetto della Sport in Lignano Sabbiadoro.
3v3 WFC2024 in Lahti, Finland.
It’s a return to the same countries as the last Women’s World Floorball Championships Qualifications in 2023.
Groups for EUR1 and EUR2 Qualifiers
Women’s WFCQ 2025 EUR1 (Latvia, Valmiera: January 28 – February 1, 2025)
GROUP A:
- Sweden
- Norway
- Germany
- Belgium
- Austria
GROUP B:
- Finland
- Latvia
- Estonia
- Spain
- Great Britain
In EUR1, 10 teams will battle for 6 spots in the WFC 2025 in Czechia. Only the top 3 teams from each group will qualify.
GROUP A Highlights
- In Group A, Sweden enters with a strong squad, many of whom were part of the 2023 qualifiers. New additions like Mira Markström and Linnea Hammar, both standout performers in Sweden this season, will have the chance to shine on the international stage.
- Norway and Germany are always formidable rivals, and their past encounters promise more excitement. In the 2023 WFC, Germany edged out Norway 3-2 in a thrilling 9th-12th place playoff, with Ellen Kunigk scoring the game-winner just 4:26 before the final buzzer. Can Norway, led by Rikke Ingebrigtsli Hansen and Ida Sundberg, seek revenge? Or will Germany, with Anna-Lena Best and Theresa Beppler-Alt in their ranks, continue their winning ways? We won’t have to wait long to find out!
- Belgium and Austria also promise to bring fierce competition. Both teams are blending experienced players with promising young talent. In their 2023 qualifier matchup, Belgium’s Sofie Ryynanen, currently playing in Sweden for IBK Alingsås, will be one to watch. Austria’s Rebecca Kuzel will also be a key player to keep an eye on.
Jenna Saario (TPS) and Mira Markström (Pixbo)
GROUP B Highlights
- In Group B, one key story is Finland’s emerging youth talent. Players like Miisa Turunen, who impressed in the 2023 WFC and U19 Championship, have made the jump to the senior team. Jenna Saario, with her experience since 2017, will also be crucial in leading the team’s charge toward WFC 2025.
- Latvia and Estonia, the Baltic neighbors, will both aim to challenge Finland while vying for second place. Latvia’s Simona Grapena, fresh from successful seasons in the Czech Republic, returns home as the top scorer in the Latvian league. Estonia, with key players like Piret Puidak (Sparta Tallinn) and Reti Väärt (EMU SK), will rely on their experience, especially with both clubs competing in the Latvian league.
- For Spain, this will be a crucial test to see where they stand since their narrow 0-4 loss to Estonia in the 2023 qualifiers, with the score only 0-1 after 30 minutes played. Can they pull off a surprise this time, led by Nieves Ballesteros Suarez and Sarah Noemi Borer Kropf?
- Great Britain, with limited prep time and only three games before the qualifiers, is still a team to watch. They may surprise us if they can defend well against teams like Spain and Estonia, with key players like Rebecca Gmunder (UH Red Lions Frauenfeld) and Zemfira Zakojan leading the charge.
Team Latvia at WFC2023
In conclusion, it comes as no surprise that teams like Sweden and Finland are consistently leading their matches. In Group A, the real intrigue will lie in whether Norway or Germany can challenge Sweden for the top spot, while in Group B, the competition between Latvia and Estonia could provide a thrilling battle until the final moments. Both of these pairs—Group A’s Norway and Germany, and Group B’s Latvia and Estonia—are expected to fight for second place in their respective groups.
However, as we’ve witnessed, there are always underdogs to keep an eye on, such as Belgium and Spain. This year, Belgium will face Norway, the team they narrowly lost to 6-2 during the 2023 WFCQ, and it will be fascinating to see if Belgium can turn the tables. Similarly, Spain’s ability to challenge Estonia, or perhaps even Latvia, will be an exciting storyline to watch unfold.
As for Austria and Great Britain, both teams are using the 2025 World Floorball Championship as an invaluable opportunity to gain experience, enhance their talent pool, and build greater floorball awareness in their countries—a truly positive development for the sport. We wish them all the best in their efforts and look forward to the fierce competition that lies ahead!
Women’s WFCQ 2025 EUR2 (Italy, Lignano Sabbiadoro: January 29 – February 1, 2025)
GROUP A:
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- Hungary
- Netherlands
GROUP B:
- Slovakia
- Poland
- Italy
- France
In EUR2, five teams will qualify for WFC 2025. The top two teams from each group will advance automatically, while the third-place teams will play each other for the final spot.
How the Playoffs Will Work:
- 1st Place Group A vs. 1st Place Group B – Game for 1st place in EUR2 Qualifiers
- 2nd Place Group A vs. 2nd Place Group B – Game for 3rd place
- 3rd Place Group A vs. 3rd Place Group B – Game for the final 5th qualification spot
GROUP A Highlights
- In Group A, Switzerland, as one of the favorites, has blended experienced national team players with young talent. The core of the team remains largely the same as in the 2023 WFC and qualifiers, with standout players like Lara Heini, one of the world’s best goalkeepers, leading the charge. Celine Stettler and Nathalie Spichiger will also be key to the team’s offensive success.
- Denmark, who finished 8th in the 2023 WFC, will bring back familiar faces while giving new players a chance. Young talent like Karen Juul Thomsen, who impressed with the U19 team, will be one to watch, along with Lina Voldby, who netted 7 goals in the 2023 WFC.
- Hungary, returning to the WFC after a long absence since 2013, will be eager to prove themselves in this year’s qualifiers. Although they didn’t secure victories in recent friendlies against Austria and Great Britain, players like Kinga Anna Oravecz and Petra Magyar showed leadership.
- The Netherlands, despite an 8-3 loss to Germany in 2023, showed they can compete with top-tier teams, especially with a strong first half. This year, they’ll rely on familiar faces from the 2023 qualifiers, along with emerging talent like Ilse Stoffers, who scored 12 goals in two friendlies against Italy and Rebecca Krauts who has 31 points! in 8 games playing in Eredivisie at U.C FaceOff. It will be exciting to see how they perform in Group A!
Lina Voldby, Denmark
GROUP B Highlights
- In Group B, Slovakia and Poland both finished 5th and 6th in the 2023 WFC, with Slovakia edging out Poland 7-4 for 5th place and winning 5-3 in their group match. The two teams will face off again in the same group at WFCQ 2025, and both are key contenders. Slovakia has also qualified for the World Games, a significant achievement. Both teams bring back the core of their 2023 squads but will introduce new players to fight for spots in the 2025 squad. Keep an eye on Laura Chupekova and Paulina Hudakova for Slovakia, while for Poland, Hanna Samson and Martyna Gradzka will play a big role.
- Italy, playing on home soil, will be motivated to impress their fans. Although they lost two friendlies to the Netherlands, they could meet again in a crucial 5th-place qualifier match. Marta Pelliccioni and Maya Amodeo will be key offensive players for Italy.
- For France, who made their first-ever WFC appearance in 2023, they aim to repeat the achievement this year. After three friendlies to prepare, they will be looking to build on their strong 15th-place finish, which included a thrilling 5-4 win over Australia. Watch for Pauline Meneust, who led France in 2023 and will continue to be a driving force for the team.
Laura Chupekova (Slovakia) and Wiktoria Kowalewska (Poland)
Both groups promise thrilling matches! In Group A, Switzerland is the favorite to top the group, but it will be exciting to see how Denmark, Netherlands, and Hungary perform. The Netherlands could be a tough challenge for Denmark, and Hungary will be eager to showcase their talent.
In Group B, Slovakia and Poland are marked as leaders of the group, but Italy could surprise on home turf, and France will aim to replicate their strong 2023 performance. Whether it’s the favorites winning, unexpected upsets, or teams making a return to the WFC, these groups will be full of excitement. GET READY!!!
How to Watch
Catch all the games live through the IFF app or on floorball.sport. Subscriptions are required, which has sparked debate about accessibility, especially for qualification tournaments with participating countries who arguably need the exposure more than the IFF needs revenue. If you’re interested, check out our article: How the IFF’s Paywall is Hurting Floorball’s Growth.
Who will you support in WFCQ 2025? Let us know, and let’s enjoy this exciting week of floorball together!
Photo credits: Eng Chin An (WFC2023), Aleksi Pitkanen (3v3 WFC2024), IFF_Floorball (Pixbo-TPS).
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