The Women’s U19 World Floorball Championships (WFC) 2020 will be played from 1st – 5th September 2021 in Uppsala, Sweden. The decision was made by the IFF Central Board based on the proposal from the Swedish Floorball Federation.
The Covid-19 pandemic still affects the list of countries which can participate. A total of nine qualified teams (Czech Republic, Finland, Latvia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Poland and Russia) have replied that they are ready to participate and seven qualified teams (Australia, Canada, USA, Austria, China, New Zealand and Norway) have replied that they cannot participate due to Covid-19 and travel restrictions.
With a reduced number of teams participating, a modified playing format will be required. The IFF CB has previously decided, in accordance to a proposal from the Rules & Competition Committee, that if the number of teams in a group means that teams must play two matches in a day during the group stage, then the match time shall be 3×15 minutes for all of that group’s matches. The play-off matches shall still be played with 3×20 minutes.
As previously explained by Mr John Liljelund, IFF Secretary General —…as four matches in three days is considered physically tough, and it is known that in most countries there has been very limited floorball played over the last year, this is the only way possible to decide the group in the three days available for the group matches and making it possible to play semi-finals.
Once the groups and playing format is confirmed the match schedule will be finalised and published. Unlike the Men’s U19 WFC 2021 there was no possibility to include replacement teams to the event due to the Women’s U19 WFC 2022 European qualifications being played the following week in Estonia.
Furthermore, there is currently a limitation of 300 spectators for indoor events in Sweden which is why the ticket sales for the U19 WFC in Uppsala has been paused. If the restrictions will change the organisers will be happy to welcome as many people as possible into IFU Arena. Continue to follow the Women’s U19 WFC website and all the U19 WFC social media channels for further information.
