The Men's national team is in the third week of preparation for the IIHF World Championship 2026 The team has been preparing for the two international matches against Austria in Garmisch-Partenkirchen since Tuesday. The first match is an away game in Zell am See on Thursday at 19 p.m., followed by the second match in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Saturday at 17 p.m.
Both matches have the feel of a derby – and both teams are at a similar stage: The World Cup is approaching, squad selection is the priority, and the fine-tuning of the playing system is becoming increasingly important. The two teams will also meet again at the World Cup in Zurich: They will face each other directly in the group stage on May 23, 2026.
Reactions to the games against Austria
National coach Harold Kreis: “After the two good games against the Slovaks, we want to continue the positive development of the team.. The challenge is to integrate our new players while continuing to operate within our established system. The games against Austria will certainly be hard-fought. If we stick to our game plan, we'll definitely have another chance to come away with more success.
Striker Maximilian Kastner: "We expect two fast, physically intense games against the Austrians. It will be a battle for every inch of ice and the Fans will certainly contribute to a great atmosphere. We are all really looking forward to our home game here in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Saturday.”
Striker Dominik Bokk"It's great for me to be back with the national team and to work with both the guys in the locker room and the staff. The games against Austria have always been very intense recently, and I'm sure that won't change this time either. The games definitely have a derby feel, and you'll certainly notice that in both teams."
Fan-Friday with autograph session and public training
Fans Fans will have two opportunities to meet the national team in person on Friday, May 1, 2026. An autograph session will take place in the city center at 13 p.m. DEB-players at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen casino. In the afternoon, the DEB At 16 p.m., there will be a public training session at the Olympic Ice Sports Centre – admission is free.
Fanmile on match day directly in front of the stadium
Another highlight for Fans Around match day in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the FanThe event will take place a mile from the stadium. Even before kickoff, the colorful supporting program starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026, and continues throughout the entire match day. In addition to food and drinks, there will be various partner stands with activities and a bouncy castle for children.