# Ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Men's qualification

Qualification for the men's ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics was determined by the IIHF World Ranking following the 2023 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships. A total of 12 men's hockey teams qualified. The hosts (Italy) along with the top eight teams in the world ranking received automatic berths into the Olympics, while all other teams had an opportunity to qualify for the remaining three spots.

## Qualified teams

| Event | Date | Location | Vacancies | Qualified |
| Hosts | 24 June 2019 | Lausanne | 1 | Italy |
| 2023 IIHF World Ranking | 2 June 2023 | — | 8 | Canada Finland Russia United States Germany Sweden Switzerland Czech Republic |
| Final qualification tournaments | 29 August – 1 September 2024 | Bratislava | 1 | Slovakia |
| Final qualification tournaments | 29 August – 1 September 2024 | Riga | 1 | Latvia |
| Final qualification tournaments | 29 August – 1 September 2024 | Aalborg | 1 | Denmark |
| Total | | | 12 | |

### Notes

* $^a$ The 2023 IIHF World Ranking comprised the following events: 2020 World Championship, 2021 World Championship, 2022 Winter Olympic Games, 2022 World Championship and 2023 World Championship.
* $^b$ Tampere and Riga were the sites of the 2023 IIHF World Championship; at the conclusion of the tournament the ranking and direct qualification slots were finalized.
* $^c$ The participation of Russia is not yet confirmed and depends on if the team is allowed to return to the IIHF Championship program. If Russia were to be banned, France would take its place in the men's tournament.

## Qualification seeding

To qualify directly, a nation had to be ranked in the top eight following the 2023 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships. In the IIHF World Ranking system, ranking points from the most recent year were weighted at full value, and points from each preceding year were worth 25% less.
* Qualified directly to Olympic tournament
* Entered in Final Olympic qualification
* Entered in Round 3
* Entered in Round 2
* Entered in Round 1 (cancelled)
* Did not enter Olympic qualification
| Qualifying seed | Team | WC2023 (100%) | WC2022 (75%) | OLY2022 (75%) | WC2021 (50%) | WC2020 (25%) | Total |
| 1 | Canada | 1600 | 1160 | 1040 | 1200 | 1200 | 4150 |
| 2 | Finland | 1420 | 1200 | 1200 | 1160 | 1120 | 4080 |
| 3 | Russia | 1520 | 1120 | 1160 | 1060 | 1160 | 4050 |
| 4 | United States | 1500 | 1100 | 1060 | 1120 | 1040 | 3940 |
| 5 | Germany | 1560 | 1020 | 940 | 1100 | 1020 | 3835 |
| 6 | Sweden | 1440 | 1040 | 1100 | 960 | 1100 | 3800 |
| 7 | Switzerland | 1460 | 1060 | 1000 | 1040 | 1000 | 3775 |
| 8 | Czech Republic | 1400 | 1120 | 960 | 1020 | 1060 | 3735 |
| 9 | Slovakia | 1360 | 1000 | 1120 | 1000 | 960 | 3690 |
| 10 | Latvia | 1520 | 940 | 920 | 920 | 940 | 3610 |
| 11 | Denmark | 1340 | 960 | 1020 | 900 | 900 | 3500 |
| 12 | Norway | 1280 | 880 | 880 | 880 | 920 | 3270 |
| 13 | France | 1300 | 900 | 860 | 840 | 800 | 3240 |
| 14 | Belarus | 1260 | 860 | 840 | 840 | 880 | 3175 |
| 15 | Kazakhstan | 1320 | 860 | 700 | 940 | 840 | 3170 |
| 16 | Austria | 1260 | 920 | 800 | 780 | 780 | 3135 |
| 17 | Slovenia | 1220 | 800 | 820 | 740 | 740 | 2990 |
| Host | Italy | 1160 | 840 | 740 | 820 | 860 | 2970 |
| 18 | Hungary | 1240 | 780 | 780 | 720 | 720 | 2950 |
| 19 | Great Britain | 1200 | 820 | 660 | 860 | 820 | 2945 |
| 20 | South Korea | 1140 | 740 | 720 | 760 | 760 | 2805 |
| 21 | Poland | 1180 | 700 | 760 | 700 | 660 | 2790 |
| 22 | Romania | 1120 | 720 | 640 | 660 | 700 | 2645 |
| 23 | Lithuania | 1100 | 760 | 600 | 680 | 680 | 2630 |
| 24 | Japan | 1080 | 680 | 680 | 640 | 640 | 2580 |
| 25 | China | 1040 | 600 | 900 | 500 | 480 | 2535 |
| 26 | Ukraine | 1060 | 660 | 620 | 600 | 600 | 2470 |
| 27 | Estonia | 1020 | 640 | 580 | 620 | 620 | 2400 |
| 28 | Netherlands | 1000 | 580 | 560 | 580 | 560 | 2285 |
| 29 | Serbia | 980 | 620 | 500 | 560 | 580 | 2245 |
| 30 | Croatia | 920 | 560 | 540 | 540 | 540 | 2170 |
| 31 | Spain | 960 | 540 | 520 | 520 | 500 | 2140 |
| | Israel | 880 | 520 | 420 | 460 | 460 | 1950 |
| 32 | Iceland | 860 | 480 | 480 | 440 | 420 | 1925 |
| | Australia | 900 | 560 | — | 480 | 520 | 1710 |
| 33 | Bulgaria | 800 | 420 | 380 | 340 | 340 | 1655 |
| 34 | Mexico | 740 | 400 | 360 | 400 | 360 | 1600 |
| 35 | Turkey | 760 | 340 | 460 | 300 | 300 | 1585 |
| 36 | United Arab Emirates | 840 | 360 | 320 | 200 | 220 | 1505 |
| | Belgium | 820 | 440 | — | 420 | 440 | 1470 |
| 37 | Chinese Taipei | 720 | 300 | 440 | 240 | 240 | 1455 |
| | New Zealand | 780 | 440 | — | 360 | 400 | 1390 |
| | Luxembourg | 640 | 280 | 300 | 280 | 260 | 1280 |
| 38 | Thailand | 660 | 220 | 340 | 140 | 160 | 1190 |
| | Turkmenistan | 700 | 320 | — | 260 | 280 | 1140 |
| 39 | Kyrgyzstan | 600 | 160 | 400 | 100 | 100 | 1095 |
| 40 | Hong Kong | 560 | 220 | 280 | 180 | 180 | 1070 |
| 41 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 580 | 200 | 260 | 160 | 140 | 1040 |
| 42 | South Africa | 680 | 240 | — | 220 | 200 | 1020 |
| 43 | Kuwait | 440 | 80 | 240 | 120 | 120 | 770 |
| | Singapore | 540 | 120 | — | 40 | — | 650 |
| | Malaysia | 500 | 100 | — | 80 | 80 | 635 |
| 44 | Georgia | 0 | 460 | — | 380 | 380 | 630 |
| 45 | Iran | 520 | 140 | — | — | — | 625 |
| | Philippines | 480 | 100 | — | 60 | 60 | 600 |
| | North Korea | — | 360 | — | 320 | 320 | 510 |
| | Mongolia | 460 | — | — | — | — | 460 |
| | Indonesia | 420 | — | — | — | — | 420 |

## Olympic qualification Round 1

The round was cancelled. It was meant to be held between 8 and 12 November 2023, and consist of two groups of five teams. Teams entered in Group N were United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan, Hong Kong, Kuwait and Georgia, while teams entered in Group O were Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Africa and Iran.
Chinese Taipei, Thailand and South Africa accepted invitations to compete in Round 2. Georgia also entered Round 2 after the withdrawal of Mexico.

## Olympic qualification Round 2

Twelve countries played in three tournaments to determine qualifiers for the next round. The three tournament winners were ranked by their qualification seedings and entered the next round as qualifier seven, eight and nine.

### Group K

The Group K tournament was held in Reykjavík, Iceland, from 14 to 17 December 2023.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Estonia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 2 | +34 | 9 | Round 3 |
| 2 | Iceland (H) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 6 | |
| 3 | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 19 | −13 | 3 | |
| 4 | Bulgaria | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 29 | −25 | 0 | |
All times are local (UTC±0).

### Group L

The Group L tournament was held in Tilburg, Netherlands, from 15 to 17 December 2023. Mexico was entered into this group but withdrew and was replaced by Georgia.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Spain | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 6 | +18 | 9 | Round 3 |
| 2 | Netherlands (H) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 7 | +27 | 6 | |
| 3 | Georgia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Thailand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 48 | −45 | 0 | |
All times are local (UTC+1).

### Group M

The Group M tournament was held in Belgrade, Serbia, from 14 to 17 December 2023.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Serbia (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | +15 | 9 | Round 3 |
| 2 | Croatia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 6 | |
| 3 | Chinese Taipei | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 13 | −9 | 3 | |
| 4 | Turkey | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | −11 | 0 | |
All times are local (UTC+1).

## Olympic qualification Round 3

Twelve countries played in three tournaments to determine qualifiers for the next round. Each tournament winner was ranked by their qualification seeding and entered the next round as qualifier four, five, or six. The tournaments were played between 8 and 11 February 2024.

### Group G

The tournament was held in Budapest, Hungary.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Japan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 9 | Final qualification |
| 2 | Hungary (H) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 6 | +9 | 6 | Final qualification |
| 3 | Lithuania | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 13 | −6 | 3 | |
| 4 | Spain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 15 | −9 | 0 | |
All times are local (UTC+1).

### Group H

The tournament was held in Cardiff, Great Britain.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Great Britain (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 5 | +23 | 9 | Final qualification |
| 2 | Romania | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 6 | |
| 3 | China | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 21 | −12 | 3 | |
| 4 | Serbia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 22 | −17 | 0 | |
All times are local (UTC+0).

### Group J

The tournament was held in Sosnowiec, Poland.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Ukraine | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 5 | +7 | 8 | Final qualification |
| 2 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 5 | |
| 3 | Poland (H) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 5 | |
| 4 | Estonia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 13 | −8 | 0 | |
* 1 2 South Korea 3–2 Poland
All times are local (UTC+1).

## Final Olympic qualification

Twelve countries played in three tournaments to determine the qualifying teams for the Olympic tournament. The tournaments were played between 29 August and 1 September 2024. On February 12, 2024, the IIHF announced that Belarus was disqualified from Olympic qualification forcing the redrawing of the final round and admitting the best second place finisher from the previous round, Hungary.
If Russia is not allowed to participate in the Olympic tournament, France will take its place as the best-ranked second place team.

### Group D

The tournament was held in Bratislava, Slovakia.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Slovakia (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 5 | +7 | 9 | 2026 Winter Olympics |
| 2 | Kazakhstan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 6 | |
| 3 | Austria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 2 | |
| 4 | Hungary | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 16 | −8 | 1 | |
All times are local (UTC+2).

### Group E

The tournament was held in Riga, Latvia.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Latvia (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | +9 | 9 | 2026 Winter Olympics |
| 2 | France | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 6 | Alternate |
| 3 | Slovenia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 11 | −2 | 3 | |
| 4 | Ukraine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 18 | −13 | 0 | |
All times are local (UTC+3).

### Group F

The tournament was held in Aalborg, Denmark.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Denmark (H) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 8 | 2026 Winter Olympics |
| 2 | Norway | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 6 | |
| 3 | Great Britain | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 11 | −5 | 3 | |
| 4 | Japan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 1 | |
All times are local (UTC+2).