On the biggest stage in international hockey, the host nation that nobody expected to make a splash has done just that, with Italy officially locking up their spot in the Quarterfinals, and becoming the first nation since Hungary and Czechia, both in 2022, to contend for the International Hockey Lineal Championship.

Le Azzurre, in their second Olympic tournament (by virtue of hosting both the 2006 and 2026 games in Turin and Milan, respectively) were not expected to go far, after finishing dead last in 2006 while being outscored 48-3 in just five games. Assembling a roster of both native Italians and diaspora players from North America and Europe, they were expected to finish with a similar result. But with a surprising opening victory over France, and an even more surprising win over Japan, Italy clinched a medal round spot with a game to go against Germany, who they narrowly lost to 2-1 on a last-minute Laura Kluge goal, securing them into third place in Group B, behind Germany and Sweden.

With that finish, that guaranteed a quarterfinal date with the winner of Group A, decided in the Canada–United States heavyweight tilt that saw Team USA shut out the Canadians in a 5-0 blowout. As such, the Italians now have a date with the Americans on 13 February, looking for what would be the biggest upset in international women’s hockey history in front of a raucous home crowd. Italy will become the first new contender to debut at the Olympics since Slovakia at the 2010 Vancouver Games, and is the twelfth European nation to contend for the IHLC since the first World Women’s Tournament in 1987, following Hungary and Czechia contending in consecutive games at the 2022 Women’s Worlds in Herning, Denmark.

This marks the highest point for the Italian program since its inception in 1993, and carries on the momentum made from April’s Women’s World Championships, where Italy was promoted to Division IA for just the second time ever, and the first time since 2018. But with this experience and success under their belt, they will look to ensure this is not a one-year trip to Division IA, with their sights surely set on promotion to the 2027 Women’s World Championships in Québec, Canada, which would mark their ascension Top Division for the first time.

While this historic meeting in Milan will be the first such IHLC meeting for the Italians, they certainly do not intend for this to be their last!

Photo Credit: Milan 2026 – IIHF – HHOF – IOC