Summary:
- Canada lost to Norway but still advanced to the playoffs at the World Women’s Curling Championship thanks to other results.
- Switzerland is in the lead, followed by Canada and Japan in second and third, and Sweden in fourth.
- Canada will face Australia and Japan on Friday.
Canada faced another tough challenge on Thursday evening at the 2026 World Women’s Curling championship, losing a second game in an extra end. Kerri Einarson’s Manitoba squad fell 10-6 to Norway, but a combination of other results kept the Canadians in the playoff picture.
China and Turkey both lost in the evening draw, which allowed Canada to secure a playoff spot despite the defeat.
After pool play, Switzerland led with a 9-1 record, while Canada and Japan were tied at 8-2, and Sweden held an 8-3 mark. The remaining two playoff spots will be decided on Friday, as South Korea sits at 6-4 ahead of China, Turkey, and Italy at 5-5.
The playoff structure is pretty straightforward, with the top two teams with best records moving right into Saturday evening’s semifinals.
The other four teams play earlier in the day to earn a place in the semifinals. The medal games are scheduled for Sunday. Canada will finish its pool play on Friday against Australia in the afternoon and Japan in the evening, hoping to secure a direct semifinal spot.
Einarson: “We Don’t Want to Look Too Far Ahead”
It’s easier if you get into that semifinal, but we don’t want to look too far ahead and just don’t need to put any more added pressure on ourselves
The match against Norway was challenging. With nothing to lose, Norway’s Torild Bjoernstad put Canada on the back foot early, creating a 4-1 lead after five ends.
Canada managed to fight back, scoring two points in the sixth and forcing an extra end after a deuce in the tenth.
BONUS CURLING!
Team Canada ties it up in the tenth end and forces an extra end against Norway.
GO CANADA GO!!! #WWCC2026 pic.twitter.com/gnQXkk0tTd
— Curling Canada (@CurlingCanada) March 20, 2026
Unfortunately, the Gimli Curling Club team could not complete the steal in the extra end and lost for the second time in the tournament in this way.
After a nice draw @EinarsonTeam, Norway makes a raise takeout for a 10-6 win.
Canada now sits at 8-2 with two more games left in the round robin against Australia and Japan!
GO CANADA GO!!#WWCC2026 pic.twitter.com/e7BeOgQwAD
— Curling Canada (@CurlingCanada) March 20, 2026
Einarson acknowledged the team’s effort.
It is exhausting, but we’re grinding away and doing the best we can and looking forward to some rest.
Canada’s playoff positioning is also influenced by tie-break rules, which consider head-to-head results first, then pre-game draw distances to the button.
Heading into Friday, Sweden, Japan, Switzerland, and Canada ranked first through fourth in that category. Einarson, along with teammates Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard, and Karlee Burgess, are chasing their first world title after watching Rachel Homan’s team claim back-to-back crowns in 2024 and 2025.
The team now has a critical day ahead, with a chance to earn a semifinal bye and move closer to the championship, something that supporters with a passion for bets are looking forward to seeing.
