Canada Dominates Australia at World Curling Championship, Secures Playoff Spot

Kerri Einarson’s Canadian team secured a dominant 11-2 victory over Australia on Friday at the 2026 BKT World Women’s Curling Championship in Calgary, rebounding from a narrow extra-end loss to Norway the previous evening.

The match against Australia concluded after six ends, demonstrating Canada’s strength in the round-robin stage. This win comes after a 10-6 defeat to Norway on Thursday, a game that went to an extra end. Despite the loss to Norway, Canada, with a 9-2 record, has already qualified for the playoff round.

Canada joins Switzerland, Japan, Sweden, and South Korea as teams already assured of a playoff berth. The competition for the final playoff spot remains tight, with China, Italy, and Turkey vying for the sixth and final qualifying position.

Einarson’s team, consisting of Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard, and Karlee Burgess, will conclude the preliminary round with a crucial match against Japan later Friday. Both teams currently hold identical 9-2 records, with the winner securing second place and a direct entry into the semifinals. Switzerland currently leads the standings with an 11-1 record, having reached the final in the past two championship years.

Canada is the defending champion, having won the world championship in 2024 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and again in 2025 in Uijeongbu, South Korea. The team will look to continue their winning streak as they head into the playoffs.