Ukraine vs. Kazakhstan at the 2026 World Championship
On May 7, 2026, at 5:00 PM Kyiv time, Ukraine's national hockey team will take on Kazakhstan in Division IA of the World Championship. Bookmakers at GGBET consider Kazakhstan the clear favorite, offering odds of 1.12 for their victory, while Ukraine's win is priced at 8.7. Both squads currently sit atop the standings, making this a pivotal clash for group leadership.
Kazakhstan kicked off the tournament with wins over Lithuania and Japan, then defeated Poland in the third round. Ukraine, meanwhile, lost to Poland in its opener but bounced back with victories against Lithuania and France. After three rounds, Kazakhstan leads the table with 9 points and a goal difference of 13:3, while Ukraine holds second place with 6 points and a 7:6 differential.
Standings and Match Results
Here is how the 2026 World Championship standings look after three rounds:
- 1. Kazakhstan – 9 points (13:3)
- 2. Ukraine – 6 points (7:6)
- 3. France – 5 points (9:8)
- 4. Poland – 4 points (7:8)
- 5. Japan – 2 points (6:12)
- 6. Lithuania – 1 point (4:9)
Ukraine's schedule for the first three rounds looked like this:
- May 2: Poland – Ukraine 3:2
- May 3: Ukraine – Lithuania 2:1
- May 5: France – Ukraine 2:3
- May 7: Ukraine – Kazakhstan
- May 8: Ukraine – Japan
Ukraine's matches are broadcast on the Suspilne Sport platform and local Suspilne channels.
The Ukrainian roster for the 2026 World Championship includes the following players:
- Goaltenders: Bohdan Dyachenko (Polonia Bytom, Poland), Oleh Petrov (Sokil, Ukraine), Oleksandr Levshyn (Prince George Cougars, Canada);
- Defensemen: Ihor Merezhko (Plzeň, Czechia), Artem Hrebenyk (Caen, France), Denys Matusevych (Kremenchuk, Ukraine), Oleksii Dakhnovskyi (Košice, Slovakia), Yevhenii Ratushnyi (Sokil, Ukraine), Ivan Sysak (Feltre, Italy), Mykola Kosarev (Stavanger Oilers, Norway);
- Forwards: Oleksandr Peresunko (Unia, Poland), Daniil Trakht (Lukko, Finland), Andrii Denyskin (Toruń, Poland), Oleksii Vorona (Toruń, Poland), Vitalii Lialka (Kremenchuk, Ukraine), Stanislav Sadovikov (Berani Zlín, Czechia), Ilarion Kupriianov (Dukla Jihlava, Czechia), Yevhen Fadieiev (Snackpoint Eaters Limburg, Netherlands), Felix Morozov (Morzine-Avoriaz, France), Viktor Zakharov (Sokil, Ukraine), Denys Borodai (Sokil, Ukraine), Mykyta Oliinyk (Sokil, Ukraine), Artem Buzoveria (Coventry Blaze, Great Britain).
The Ukraine-Kazakhstan matchup carries significant weight for both sides, as the outcome could dramatically shift the standings. Kazakhstan has been playing with confidence so far, meaning Ukraine will need to give everything to secure crucial points. Depending on the result, the teams could swap positions in the race for advancement to the next stage of the championship.
As the Ukrainian team prepares for their crucial match against Kazakhstan, it's essential to reflect on their recent performance. Following a decisive victory over France, which showcased their resilience, the players are eager to build on that momentum. For a deeper insight into the challenges they faced in the previous round against France, check out our detailed coverage here.