U.S., Canada may wear generic jerseys at worlds amid IIHF rights dispute

The U.S. and Canadian women’s hockey teams may have to wear generic jerseys at the 2026 Women’s World Championship in Denmark because of a dispute with the IIHF over commercial rights to national-team uniforms. The IIHF announced True Hockey as its exclusive apparel supplier for international events beginning in 2026-27, but it is unclear whether the agreement was finalized. Hockey Canada and USA Hockey say they retain commercial rights to their jerseys under IIHF bylaws, which give the federations rights to their logos and uniform designs and bar commercial use without their approval; each has existing agreements with Bauer and CCM. The federations challenged the IIHF’s position in Swiss court, where temporary injunctions were later revoked, and their appeals are pending. Without a resolution, True Hockey cannot use the teams’ traditional designs and marks, putting their familiar jerseys and crests in doubt for the tournament.