After a 20-Year Hiatus, Ukraine’s National Hockey Team Learns Its Elite-Level Opponents

Ukraine Returns to the World Hockey Elite Division

According to Главком: In a landmark moment for Ukrainian hockey, the national team is set to rejoin the world’s top division in 2027, marking its first appearance at this level in two decades. The 2027 IIHF World Championship will be hosted by Germany and run from May 14 to May 30.

Ukraine has been placed in Group A, where they will face the following opponents:

• Germany
• Finland
• Switzerland
• Sweden
• Latvia
• Austria
• Slovenia

It is worth noting that Slovakia was originally slated to be one of Ukraine’s opponents, but the International Ice Hockey Federation approved a swap. As the tournament host, Germany exercised its right to choose its group and switched places with Slovakia, moving into Group A. All games in this group will take place at the PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf.

Formidable Rivals and Fresh Opportunities

Finland enters as the reigning world champion, while Switzerland earned silver at the 2026 World Championship. Latvia, meanwhile, captured bronze at the 2023 tournament. Group B, which will be held at the SAP Arena in Mannheim, features the following teams:

• Canada
• United States
• Czechia
• Slovakia
• Denmark
• Norway
• Hungary
• Kazakhstan

As the host nation, Germany is automatically protected from relegation to a lower division.

This return to the elite division represents a significant step forward for hockey in Ukraine, potentially sparking greater interest in the sport across the country. Competing against powerhouses like Finland and Switzerland also gives Ukrainian players a chance to showcase their skills on the international stage and raise the overall level of competition in the national league.

As Ukraine prepares for its return to the elite hockey division, the excitement surrounding the upcoming 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship is palpable. With all playoff spots now confirmed, teams are gearing up for a thrilling tournament that will set the stage for future competitions. To find out which nations will compete in the playoffs and how they might impact the dynamics of the championship, check out the details in our article on the 2026 World Championship playoff lineup.