Sweden Dominates Finland 9-1 to Claim Third Consecutive Bandy World Championship with Edlund's Five-Goal Masterclass

Sweden captured their third consecutive Bandy World Championship title on January 18, 2026, with a commanding 9-1 victory over Finland in the final held in Björneborg. This decisive win avenged an earlier 4-3 group stage defeat to the Finnish team and earned Sweden their 15th World Championship gold, solidifying their legacy in bandy history.

Christoffer Edlund was the star of the final, netting five goals and securing the tournament’s top scorer accolade with a total of 24 goals. Edlund, aged 38 and already Sweden’s all-time leading national team scorer with over 1,000 career goals, indicated that this championship might be his last appearance for the national team, expressing a desire to spend more time with family. He had a standout performance, scoring three of the first four Swedish goals early in the match.

The game began intensely with Sweden establishing a 3-0 lead in the first half before a pivotal moment altered the match dynamics. Finland’s Ville Hämäläinen delivered a dangerous elbow tackle to Sweden’s Martin Landström, resulting in a red card for Hämäläinen late in the first half. This left Finland shorthanded for the remainder of the game, allowing Sweden to capitalize and score four additional goals between the 50th and 57th minutes, extending their lead to 7-0.

The match featured high emotions and physicality, including a controversial penalty decision awarded then revoked, sparking altercations on the ice. Despite the Finnish crowd’s hostility towards Landström upon his return, Sweden maintained control, stretching the lead to 9-1 by the final whistle. Finland scored a late penalty goal but struggled with mistakes throughout the game. Following the loss, Finnish coach Ari Holopainen announced he would step down from his position after coaching since 2019.

This championship further cements Sweden’s dominance in bandy, with Edlund’s historic performance highlighting a memorable final. Sweden’s efficient strategy, mental resilience following the group stage loss, and the physical advantage gained after Finland’s red card were key to their overwhelming victory.