Predators’ Roman Josi named captain of Switzerland’s World Championship team
Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi has been named captain of Team Switzerland at the upcoming 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship, the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation announced Thursday.
This year’s World Championship is slated for May 15 to 31 in Zurich and Fribourg, meaning Josi will captain the Swiss team on home ice. The 35-year-old defenseman has played for Team Switzerland at nine previous World Championships, serving as captain in 2024.
Swiss Ice Hockey also announced on Thursday that NHLers Nico Hischier, J.J. Moser, and Nino Niederreiter, as well as NHL alum Sven Andrighetto, will serve as alternate captains under Josi at the tournament.
Our captains team for the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Zürich & Fribourg! 🫡💪 ©️: Roman Josi 🅰️: Sven Andrighetto, Nico Hischier, Janis Moser, Nino Niederreiter #SIHF #MensWorlds #OurHomeOurTime #IIHF
Josi, who has served as the Predators’ captain since 2017, amassed 13 goals and 55 points in 68 games with the club during the 2025-26 regular season. The Predators finished in sixth place in the Central Division and missed out on qualifying for the playoffs by just four points.
In addition to his extensive World Championship experience, Josi has represented Switzerland at the 2014 and 2026 Winter Olympics, and played for Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He won a silver medal with Switzerland at the 2013, 2018, and 2024 World Championships.
Josi made his Worlds debut the last time the tournament was held in Switzerland, all the way back in 2009, while he was still playing for SC Bern. He came over to North America two years later and debuted with the Predators in the 2011-12 season, establishing himself as a bona fide top-four defenseman shortly thereafter.
Over the following years, Josi emerged as the heir apparent to Shea Weber and, later, P.K. Subban, eventually taking over the mantle as Nashville’s No. 1 defender. He won the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman in 2020 and was named a finalist in 2022 and 2024.