The Group A tournament began on 2 March 2008 in Mexico City, Mexico at the San Jeronimo Arena. New Zealand and South Africa both returned to compete in the Division III competition after missing promotion at the previous years World Championships. Mexico entered the Division II competition after being relegated from the 2007 Division II Group A tournament. Chinese Taipei and Mongolia returned to international competition, having last played in the 2002 IIHF Asian Oceanic U18 Championship.