The United States and Japan are set to meet in the opening game at Herning's KVIK Hockey Arena - one of two venues along with Scanel Hockey Arena in Frederikshavn.

That clash comes in Group A and all five teams in the pool are guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals, but will be fighting for seeding.

Finland, Switzerland and defending champions Canada complete Group A.

Hosts Denmark, Hungary, Germany, the Czech Republic and Sweden comprise Group B, with the top three to earn quarter-final berths.

Sweden have replaced Russia in the wake of teams from Russia and Belarus being barred from IIHF tournaments over the war in Ukraine.

Reigning world and Olympic champions Canada are the red-hot favourites, having won this event a record 11 times.

Canada and the US have met in 19 of the 20 past finals, plus six of the seven Olympic gold-medal matches.

Captain Marie-Philip Poulin leads the Canadian team, as she did at Beijing 2022 when Poulin was named to the All-Star Team and tallied 17 points in seven games.

Finland, runners-up in 2019 and third at both the 2021 World Championship and 2022 Winter Olympics, may be the most likely to disrupt the North American domination.

Finland's squad includes Anni Keisala, who was named the best goaltender at the 2021 World Championship.

American preparations have been disrupted by head coach John Wroblewski being away from the team after testing positive for COVID-19.

The group stage is due to conclude on August 30.

Knockout matches should then follow in early September, with the final set for September 4.

Denmark has never staged the IIHF Women's World Championship before.