Division IA relegation at the 2026 World Championships came a full day before the end of group round competition, with Great Britain and Italy being relegated after a single year back up at the Top Division, meaning they will miss the 2027 Worlds in Germany.

The first half of relegation was actually decided two days before the group round ended, with Great Britain’s fate being sealed in Zürich with a 6-0 thumping by Latvia. The loss set GB at 0-6 in the tournament with one game remaining against Germany, who cannot be relegated by virtue of hosting next year’s tournament, but it would not matter, as the Lions were outscored 29-4 in Group A.

The relegation race was not particularly close, as the usual teams expected to fight the Brits for Top Division survival outperformed their predictions this year, with Austria not only surviving but thriving, sitting at 3-2 and in a playoff spot, while Hungary 5-0 defeat of GB was enough to keep them in the Top Division for 2027. The Brits return to Division IA after being promoted in 2025, continuing their yo-yo-ing between divisions; outside of tournaments during COVID where relegation was not on the table, Britain has not stayed for consecutive seasons in the Top Division since 1951.

In Fribourg, however, the race to stay in the Top Division was far more interesting, with three countries – Italy, Slovenia and Denmark – all at risk with two days to go in the tournament. Italy and Denmark faced off, with Denmark and Slovenia each sitting at three points, while Italy had zero points in five games. With a regulation loss meaning certain relegation for Italy, a pair of Tommy Purdeller goals forced a 2-0 Denmark lead to a shootout, where the Danes locked in their Top Division spot next year on a Patrick Russell shootout winner, avoiding their first relegation to Division IA since 2003.

With Denmark clinched, that set up the following day’s Italy-Slovenia matchup a winner-take-all tilt for the final spot in Germany in 2027; and while it seemed that the Azzurri was keeping up, and at times even had the early advantage, in the first period, it was all Risi for the remaining forty minutes, with a pair of Jan Drozg goals leading the way in a 5-1 blowout loss.

In Great Britain and Italy’s place next year will be Ukraine and Kazakhstan, returning to the Top Division for the first time since 2007 and 2025, respectively. Next year’s Division IA will be made up of Great Britain and Italy, newly-promoted Estonia, France, Lithuania and Poland, in a host nation to be named at the upcoming IIHF Congress in Zürich. Whether the Lions and Azzurri will be back in 2028, or if new contenders emerge in their place, only time will tell!

Photo Credit: IIHF Worlds 2026 – IIHF Worlds 2026 – IIHF – HHOF – IOC