About the Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championship is one of the most prestigious ice hockey competitions in the world. It takes place annually and has been organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) since 1920.
Originally, the tournament was only held as part of the Winter Olympics, but since 1930 it has been held annually and until 1991 it was known as the World and European Championships.
The world championships in women's ice hockey have been held since 1990.
2027 Ice Hockey World Championships
Where will the tournament take place?
The 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will take place in Germany from May 14 to 30, 2027. The preliminary-round games will be hosted in Düsseldorf and Mannheim. An opening game between Germany and Switzerland will take place on May 13 at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen.
The main venues will be:
- Düsseldorf Dome in Düsseldorf, hosting Group B and the final round;
- SAP Arena in Mannheim, hosting Group A and Germany's preliminary-round games.
A total of 64 games are scheduled for the tournament. The semi-finals, bronze medal game and gold medal game will all be played in Düsseldorf.
Who will participate?
Sixteen national teams will compete at the 2027 World Championship. They are divided into two preliminary-round groups of eight teams.
Group A — Mannheim:
- Switzerland;
- Finland;
- Sweden;
- Germany;
- Latvia;
- Austria;
- Slovenia;
- Ukraine.
Group B — Düsseldorf:
- Canada;
- United States;
- Czechia;
- Slovakia;
- Denmark;
- Norway;
- Kazakhstan;
- Hungary.
The participating teams include the 14 highest-ranked nations from the 2026 World Championship and Ukraine and Kazakhstan, who were promoted from the 2026 Division I Group A tournament.
History of the Championship
The first World Championship took place in Antwerp in 1920 as part of the Olympic Games. The International Ice Hockey Federation, now known as the IIHF, was founded in 1908. Since 1930, the World Championship has been held as a separate international tournament.
The competition has evolved over the decades, including the introduction of professional players and changes to the tournament format. The modern championship features a preliminary round followed by a knockout stage.
Canada is the most successful national team in the history of the men's World Championship, with 28 gold medals according to IIHF statistics. The Soviet Union and Russia have won 27 gold medals combined in the IIHF's historical records.
Results of the Most Recent Championships
| Year | Host Country | Medalists |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Switzerland | 1 – Finland, 2 – Switzerland, 3 – Sweden |
| 2025 | Sweden, Denmark | 1 – United States, 2 – Switzerland, 3 – Sweden |
| 2024 | Czechia | 1 – Czechia, 2 – Switzerland, 3 – Sweden |
2028 Ice Hockey World Championships
The 2028 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will take place in France from May 12 to 28, 2028. The host cities will be Paris and Lyon. France will host the World Championship for the third time, following the 1951 and 2017 editions.
Games will be played at Accor Arena in Paris and LDLC Arena in Lyon. Sixteen national teams will compete for the world title.
Official website of the International Ice Hockey Federation
Keep an eye on the dates of the ice hockey championships and other events in our Sports Events Calendar.
