2026 IIHF World U18 Championships

2026 IIHF U18 World Championship
Tournament details
Host country Slovakia
CitiesTrenčín
Bratislava
Venues2 (in 2 host cities)
Dates22 April – 2 May 2026
Teams10
Official website
www.iihf.com

The 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship will be the 27th such event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams will participate at several levels of competition.[1] These tournaments also serve as qualifications for the 2027 competition.

Top Division

The Top Division tournament will be played in Trenčín and Bratislava, Slovakia, from 22 April to 2 May 2026.[2][3]

Participants

Ten teams will take part in the competition. Denmark will return for the first time since 2019. They will replace Switzerland, who were relegated to Division I A for the first time since 2006 after finishing last in 2025.

Qualification Host Dates Vacancies Qualified
Top nine in 2025 Allen / Frisco April 23 – May 3, 2025 9  Canada
 Sweden
 United States
 Slovakia
 Finland
 Germany
 Czechia
 Latvia
 Norway
Promoted from Division I Székesfehérvár 20–26 April 2025 1  Denmark

Summary of qualified teams

Team Qualification method Appearance(s) Previous best performance
Total[a] First[a] Last[a] Streak[a]
 Canada First in 2025 24th 2002 2025 24 Champions (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021, 2024, 2025)
 Sweden Second in 2025 27th 1999 27 Champions (2019, 2022)
 United States Third in 2025 27 Champions (Eleven times)[b]
 Slovakia Fourth in 2025 26th 4 Runners-up (2003)
 Finland Fifth in 2025 27th 27 Champions (1999, 2000, 2016, 2018)
 Germany Sixth in 2025 19th 2 Fifth place (2001, 2008)
 Czechia Seventh in 2025 27th 27 Runners-up (2014)
 Latvia Eighth in 2025 14th 2007 7 Seventh place (2022)
 Norway Ninth in 2025 11th 1999 4 Ninth place (2001, 2009, 2011, 2023, 2024, 2025)
 Denmark Champions of Division I A 7th 2004 2019 1 Eighth place (2004)

Preliminary round

All times are local (Central European Summer Time; UTC+2).

Group A

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Canada 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Quarterfinals
2  Slovakia (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Finland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Latvia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Norway 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation round
First match(es) will be played: 22 Apr 2026. Source: IIHF
(H) Host
22 April 2026
14:00		Norway v FinlandPavol Demitra Ice Stadium, Trenčín
22 April 2026
18:00		Canada v SlovakiaPavol Demitra Ice Stadium, Trenčín
23 April 2026
14:00		Canada v LatviaPavol Demitra Ice Stadium, Trenčín
23 April 2026
18:00		Slovakia v NorwayPavol Demitra Ice Stadium, Trenčín
24 April 2026
18:00		Finland v LatviaPavol Demitra Ice Stadium, Trenčín
25 April 2026
14:00		Norway v CanadaPavol Demitra Ice Stadium, Trenčín
25 April 2026
18:00		Slovakia v FinlandPavol Demitra Ice Stadium, Trenčín
26 April 2026
18:00		Latvia v NorwayPavol Demitra Ice Stadium, Trenčín
27 April 2026
14:00		Finland v CanadaPavol Demitra Ice Stadium, Trenčín
27 April 2026
18:00		Latvia v SlovakiaPavol Demitra Ice Stadium, Trenčín

Group B

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Sweden 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Quarterfinals
2  United States 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Czech Republic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Denmark 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation round
Source: IIHF
22 April 2026
12:00		Germany v SwedenIce Hockey Arena Ružinov, Bratislava
22 April 2026
16:00		Czech Republic v United StatesIce Hockey Arena Ružinov, Bratislava
23 April 2026
12:00		Denmark v GermanyIce Hockey Arena Ružinov, Bratislava
23 April 2026
16:00		Sweden v Czech RepublicIce Hockey Arena Ružinov, Bratislava
24 April 2026
16:00		United States v DenmarkIce Hockey Arena Ružinov, Bratislava
25 April 2026
12:00		Germany v Czech RepublicIce Hockey Arena Ružinov, Bratislava
25 April 2026
16:00		Sweden v United StatesIce Hockey Arena Ružinov, Bratislava
26 April 2026
16:00		Czech Republic v DenmarkIce Hockey Arena Ružinov, Bratislava
27 April 2026
12:00		Denmark v SwedenIce Hockey Arena Ružinov, Bratislava
27 April 2026
16:00		United States v GermanyIce Hockey Arena Ružinov, Bratislava

Division I

Main article: 2026 IIHF World U18 Championship Division I

Group A

The Division I Group A tournament was played in Krynica-Zdrój, Poland from 18 to 24 April 2026.[4]

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1   Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to the 2027 Top Division
2  Ukraine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Kazakhstan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Slovenia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Hungary 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6  Poland (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to the 2027 Division I B
First match(es) will be played: 18 April 2026. Source: IIHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) result against closest best-ranked team outside tied teams; 6) result against second-best ranked team outside tied teams; 7) seeding before tournament.
(H) Host

Group B

The Division I Group B tournament was played in Tallinn, Estonia from 25 April to 1 May 2026.[5]

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1  Austria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to the 2027 Division I A
2  Lithuania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  South Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  France 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Estonia (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6  Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to the 2027 Division II A
First match(es) will be played: 25 April 2026. Source: IIHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) result against closest best-ranked team outside tied teams; 6) result against second-best ranked team outside tied teams; 7) seeding before tournament.
(H) Host

Division II

Main article: 2026 IIHF World U18 Championship Division II

Group A

The Division II Group A tournament will be played in Târgu Secuiesc, Romania from 18 to 24 April 2026.[6]

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1  Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to the 2027 Division I B
2  Great Britain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Croatia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Romania (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6  Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to the 2027 Division II B
First match(es) will be played: 12 April 2026. Source: IIHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) result against closest best-ranked team outside tied teams; 6) result against second-best ranked team outside tied teams; 7) seeding before tournament.
(H) Host

Group B

The Division II Group B tournament will be played in Belgrade, Serbia from 5 to 11 April 2026.[7]

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1  Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to the 2027 Division II A
2  Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Chinese Taipei 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Belgium 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Serbia (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6  Mexico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to the 2027 Division III A
First match(es) will be played: 5 April 2026. Source: IIHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) result against closest best-ranked team outside tied teams; 6) result against second-best ranked team outside tied teams; 7) seeding before tournament.
(H) Host

Division III

Main article: 2026 IIHF World U18 Championship Division III

Group A

The Division III Group A tournament was played in Hong Kong, China from 2 to 8 March 2026.[8]

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1  Uzbekistan 5 4 1 0 0 37 16 +21 14 Promotion to the 2027 Division II B
2  Hong Kong (H) 5 4 0 0 1 33 14 +19 12
3  Israel 5 3 0 0 2 30 23 +7 9
4  Turkey 5 2 0 1 2 29 25 +4 7
5  Bulgaria 5 1 0 0 4 15 32 −17 3
6  New Zealand 5 0 0 0 5 8 42 −34 0 Relegation to the 2027 Division III B
Source: IIHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) result against closest best-ranked team outside tied teams; 6) result against second-best ranked team outside tied teams; 7) seeding before tournament.
(H) Host

Group B

The Division III Group B tournament was played in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina from 13 to 19 February 2026.[9]

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Iceland 3 2 0 0 1 19 6 +13 6 Semifinals
2  Bosnia and Herzegovina (H) 3 1 1 0 1 13 18 −5 5
3  South Africa 3 1 0 0 2 12 11 +1 3 Relegation round
Source: IIHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) total goals; 4) seeding before tournament.
(H) Host
Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Thailand 3 3 0 0 0 20 7 +13 9 Semifinals
2  Turkmenistan 3 1 0 0 2 5 11 −6 3
3  Luxembourg 3 0 0 1 2 10 26 −16 1 Relegation round
Source: IIHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) total goals; 4) seeding before tournament.
Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1  Thailand 5 4 1 0 0 38 10 +28 14 Champions / Promoted to the 2027 Division III A
2  Iceland 5 3 0 1 1 30 12 +18 10 Runners-up
3  Bosnia and Herzegovina 5 2 1 0 2 19 27 −8 8 Third place
4  Turkmenistan 5 1 0 0 4 6 29 −23 3 Fourth place
5  South Africa 5 2 0 0 3 24 19 +5 6 Fifth place
6  Luxembourg 5 1 0 1 3 18 38 −20 4 Sixth place, possible relegation
Source: IIHF

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d In top division. Results in tiers below are excluded.
  2. ^ United States have won in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2023.

References

  1. ^ 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship divisions
  2. ^ "2026 IIHF U18 World Championship Top Division official website". www.iihf.com.
  3. ^ "2026 IIHF U18 World Championship Top Division tournament reports". stats.iihf.com.
  4. ^ 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship Division I A official website
  5. ^ 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship Division I B official website
  6. ^ 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship Division II A official website
  7. ^ 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship Division II B official website
  8. ^ 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship Division III A official website
  9. ^ 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship Division III B official website
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