Sweden's Lag Wranå Advances to Semifinals at 2026 World Curling Championships

Sweden's curling team, led by skipper Isabella Wranå, has secured their place in the semifinals of the 2026 World Curling Championships in Calgary, Canada, after a strong 9-5 quarterfinal victory over South Korea.

The Swedish team, which includes Almida de Val, Maria Larsson, Linda Stenlund, and reserve Moa Dryburgh, built an early lead at halftime with a 5-1 score, thanks in part to two stolen points in the fifth end. Sweden maintained control throughout the match, ultimately sealing the victory with a decisive two-point shot. SVT expert Eva Lund remarked on a critical mistake by the South Korean team during the game, which contributed to Sweden’s advantage.

With this win, Sweden advances to face Switzerland in the semifinals, scheduled for 23:00 Swedish time. Switzerland finished first in the round-robin stage and had earlier bested Sweden in the group stage, setting up a tough challenge ahead. Wranå acknowledged the difficulty, stating, "We must play at our absolute best to beat them."

Lag Wranå ended the round-robin with eight wins and four losses, securing fourth place to advance to the knockout stages. Earlier in the tournament, Sweden had already narrowly edged South Korea 8-7 in a tiebreaker.

After years of preparation and hard work, Wranå expressed her excitement about competing for medals: "It feels fantastic. Competing for medals has been a major goal for us for many years," she said in a post-match interview. The team celebrated their triumph confidently as they prepare to challenge the top-seeded Swiss squad in the upcoming semifinal.

The semifinal will be broadcast live on SVT Play, giving Swedish fans the chance to follow their team’s quest for a medal at their World Championships debut.