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The IIHF Olympic Qualifiers come to an end this weekend, with three spots in the 2026 Winter Olympics up for grabs. On Sunday, the winners of the three qualifying tournaments happening across Europe will be decided, securing their ticket to Italy in 2026.
Matchup for IIHF Olympic Qualifiers:
Slovakia vs. Kazakhstan
In Group D, hosts Slovakia take on Kazakhstan in a winner-takes-all matchup at noon ET. Both teams are currently 2-0, with Slovakia beating Austria 2-1 and Hungary 7-3, while Kazakhstan defeated Austria 2-1 and Hungary 5-2. This promises to be a tight contest between two strong squads for IIHF Olympic Qualifiers.
Latvia vs. France
Group E will see hosts Latvia face off against France at 10 am ET on Sunday. Latvia comes into the final game confident after a 4-2 win over Slovenia and 5-1 victory against Ukraine. France has also looked strong, beating Slovenia 5-1 and Ukraine 7-2.
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Denmark vs. Norway
The tightest battle looks to be in Group F, where rivals Denmark and Norway clash on Sunday at 10:30 am ET in Aalborg. Norway holds a slight edge after beating Japan 4-2 and Great Britain 6-2.
Denmark got past Great Britain 3-1 but needed overtime to defeat Japan 3-2. With both teams ranked close together, this final game will likely come down to the wire.
Olympic qualified teams
Qualification for the men's ice hockey event in the 2026 Winter Olympics was decided based on the IIHF World Ranking after the conclusion of the 2023 Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships.
Italy, as hosts, and the top eight teams from the 2023 IIHF World Ranking automatically qualify.
Nine countries that have already qualified are:
1. Canada
2. Russia
3. Finland
4. Czechia
5. Switzerland
6. United States
7. Sweden
8. Germany
Russia qualified on merit, but they remain banned by the IIHF through 2025. If the ban is extended, Russia's spot would go to the next highest ranked team. Belarus, also banned, has been eliminated from contention.
Now, the stage is set for an exciting IIHF Olympic Qualifiers, with the world's top teams battling it out for Olympic glory.
The games can be viewed live on the official website of IIHF
