After three months of Olympic qualifiers, with 24 teams competing across two rounds of play, came to a conclusion today for the final three spots in Milan, with the spots being clinched locked up by Japan, Sweden and Germany for the 2026 Olympics.

In Tomakomai, the host nation was the only team to clinch their spot in just their second game, by virtue of France defeating China 4-1, meaning that with their second straight win they had already clinched the group. Japan clinched with three consecutive wins over France, Poland and China, going to their fifth Olympic tournament, and fourth straight, looking to finish better than their sixth place finish they clinched in 1998, 2018 and 2022.

Meanwhile, in Gävle, it came down to the final game between hosts Sweden and Denmark, who each notched wins over Norway and the Netherlands to meet in the winner-take-all finale. The Damkronorna dominated throughout, peppering Denmark with 56 shots and five goals en route to a 5-0 win, clinching their eighth straight tournament (never having missed it since Olympic women’s hockey debuted in 1998), looking to recreate the magic of their 2006 Silver medal.

And finally, in Bremerhaven, it came down to hosts Germany and Hungary in the final, each defeating Austria and Slovakia en route to the final. Unlike the first two groups, this tilt was far tighter, with the Magyars pushing hard to earn the upset and punch their first ever women’s Olympic ticket. However, the Träger der Adler took an early 2-1 third period lead on a goal from Luisa Welcke, with Sandra Abstreiter backstopping the final twenty minutes, and a late Hungary goal being called off as time expired, to hang on for the tight victory, marking their fourth Olympic tournament, and first since 2014.

With the final three teams qualified, the groupings for 2026 are now almost clear, with the outstanding question being on Russia’s potential involvement. Group A was already established with defending champions Canada, the United States, Finland, Switzerland and Czechia, while Group B sees hosts Italy and Russia (potentially, depending on the IOC’s ultimate decision) joined by the new qualifiers.

If Russia is removed from the tournament, the above groups will all undergo a shift depending on rankings, with the next best-ranked second place team (in this case, France) likely to join the qualified teams in Group B. With the last few pieces now in place, it is nearly full steam ahead to February 2026 in Milan!

Photo Credit: IIHF Final Olympic Qualification (Group G, H, I) – IIHF – HHOF – IOC