USA, Japan women need a berth in Italy
Olympic and Paralympic qualifying for Milano-Cortina 2026 is ramping up and while some nations can celebrate, others are disappointed—and down to their last chance.
Seven World Curling member nations confirmed their initial spots following the women’s world fours championship in Korea, in this order—Canada, Switzerland, South Korea, Sweden, Denmark, Great Britain (via Scotland) and China.
With China’s eye-opening bronze in Uijeongbu nabbing the last berth—Italy has their spot as host nation—it’s gut-check time for Norway, Japan, Türkiye and USA, who all finished out of direct Olympic qualification.
Japan vs Türkiye at the 2021 OQE • Céline Stucki-World CurlingThose four nations will send teams to Kelowna, B.C. Dec. 6-19 to try and grab one of the final two Olympic berths available at the Olympic Qualification Event (OQE) 2025.
Other nations expected to join the fray in Kelowna will be Norway and Estonia.
The fourth-ever OQE, which will include men’s fours and mixed doubles qualifiers, will be hosted at the Kelowna Curling Club in British Columbia, which has 12 sheets and seating for over 1,000 spectators.
There is also a Pre-Qualification Event in the fall—location to be confirmed—that will declare three additional squads in both the men’s and women’s fours OQE (there is no pre-qualifying for the mixed doubles OQE, which can accommodate 16 teams).
KCC hosted the world mixed fours championship in 2018 and the Pan Continental Curling Championships in 2023.
USA’s Team Peterson at the PanCon in Kelowna • Michale Burns-Curling CanadaThat inaugural PanCon event was notable for Brad Gushue’s explosive comments about World Curling event organization.
Gushue recently lost his string of recent Brier titles as archrival Brad Jacobs took the 2025 Tankard trophy at Kelowna’s Prospera Place arena.
At the Beijing 2022 Olympics, two of the three women’s fours podium teams came all the way from the 2021 Olympic Qualifying Event.
Great Britain’s Eve Muirhead won Olympic gold in Beijing, but needed a wild run of victories leading up their qualification at the OQE in Leewarden, Netherlands.
Defending Olympic champion and 2026 Team GB chef de mission Eve Muirhead is in MilanJapan’s Satsuki Fujisawa, who eventually won Olympic silver, had grabbed the second-last Beijing berth by defeating Korea (who took the final spot).
The first two OQE editions took place at Füssen, Germany in 2013 and Pilsen, Czech Republic in 2017.
“Kelowna is very excited to welcome the world back to Kelowna—the Pan Continental left a lasting impression on the city.” Said Kelowna Curling Club General Manager Jock Tyre.
“Being a precursor to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will make this a huge must-see event for curling enthusiasts.”
The men’s world fours championship begins Sat. Mar. 29 in Moose Jaw, Sask. and will declare the first seven nations to join hosts Italy at Cortina next year.