[3] The reigning champions are Finland, who won their fifth title at the 2024 tournament.

[4] The most successful country is Sweden, with 10 wins, the last in 2022, and participation in every final so far.

The other medalists are the Czech Republic with two silvers from 2022 and 2004, Switzerland with one from 1998 and Norway with one bronze from 1996.

These qualifiers, typically comprising several European tournaments and one each for the Americas and Asia-Oceania, are held about a year before the championship.

The top two teams from Groups A and B advance directly to the quarter-finals.