Canada, U.S. may don generic jerseys at women’s worlds over commercial rights dispute

Canada is packing its bags for the women’s world hockey championship.

But the players and their counterparts from the United States still don’t know what threads they will be sporting at the tournament set to begin next week in Denmark.

That’s because of a dispute between the countries’ governing bodies and the International Ice Hockey Federation over the control of commercial rights for national team jerseys.

The Athletic was first to report on the lack of clarity ahead of the event Thursday.

The IIHF announced an agreement with True Hockey in a press release last October that stated the company would be the “exclusive supplier of team uniforms and apparel for all IIHF member national associations for all international events” beginning in 2026-27, but it remains unclear if the deal in question was completed.

Hockey Canada and USA Hockey, meanwhile, have apparel and jersey contracts of their own in place with Bauer and CCM, respectively, and have been pushing back in a Swiss court.

IIHF bylaws state it has final approval on jersey designs, but member national associations (MNA) “retain all rights related to their national team logo, emblem and uniform design.” The document goes on to say, “the IIHF shall not use MNA team jerseys for commercial purposes unless approval is provided by the respective MNA.”

The sport’s world governing body called an extraordinary congress in May with an eye toward changing its statutes to allow for control of national team jersey commercial rights.

Hockey Canada and USA Hockey each filed for injunctions with the Swiss court, The Athletic reported.

Temporary injunctions were granted before the congress, but were revoked by the court last month. Hockey Canada and USA Hockey have appealed.

The standoff means both countries might be forced to don generic jerseys at the worlds since True Hockey can’t use either federation’s designs or markings.

Hockey Canada said in a statement that “wearing our Maple Leaf is incredibly important to our national team athletes.”

“We are hopeful that we will reach a positive resolution with the IIHF’s new administration that will allow the national women’s team to do so when they represent Canada.”

USA Hockey did not respond to a request for comment.

Canada opens the women’s world championship against Sweden on Nov. 6. The Americans face Switzerland later that day.

Sarah Fillier scored the winner as Canada beat the United States 5-3 in an exhibition game Wednesday in Windsor, Ont. The teams meet again Friday in Plymouth, Mich., in their final tune-up before the tournament.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2026.

The Canadian Press