Host Belarus will open the 78th World Championship in the evening of 9th May 2014 in the 15,000-seat Minsk Arena against the United States. Earlier on the same day 2013 silver medallist Switzerland will challenge 2012 world champion Russia.

For Belarus it’s the first time the country will host the event after having staged the 2010 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship and the 2011 IIHF Continental Cup at Minsk Arena. The venue is also home to the KHL team Dynamo Minsk.

In the other group, based at Chizhovka Arena which is set to open in Minsk in November, France vs. Canada and the neighbouring clash between Slovakia and the Czech Republic will be the games on the opening day. Defending world champion Sweden will start its title-defence campaign the next day against Denmark.

The 56 games of the Preliminary Round and the cross-over Quarter-Finals will be played at both arenas, then the four remaining teams will play the Semi-Finals (24 May) and medal games (25 May) at Minsk Arena.

Prices for single-game tickets will range from approximately 6 to 50 Euros in the Preliminary Round depending on the game and seating category, while prices for the final round will start at 25 Euro. Day tickets, preliminary-round, final-round and event packages will also be available as well as packages that include tickets, accommodation and other services such as meals and sightseeing tours.

Ticket sales start at the end of September and ticketholders as well as participants of the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will be able to enter Belarus visa-free from 25 April until 31 May 2014.