All matches in Division IA group have been completed at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Based on their results, the tournament table in the Ukrainian group has been formed.
In this year's World Cup, the Ukrainian U18 team will face Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Poland, Slovenia and Hungary. The results of five matches will determine the winner of the group, who will move up in class and play in the elite next season.
Suspilne Sport is the official broadcaster of Ukraine U18 matches at the IIHF World Championship. Watch live broadcasts of Ukraine's games on the Suspilne Sport platforms and local Suspilne channels.
The first opponent of the Ukrainian national team at the 2026 World Youth Championship was Slovenia. The Slovenians opened the scoring, after which the “blue and yellow” scored twice in the opening period. However, before the last period, the scoreboard remained tied. The Ukrainian national team managed to snatch victory only in the second half of the third period — 4:2.
According to the results of the first round, two more teams won their opening matches – Switzerland and Kazakhstan defeated the national teams of Poland and Hungary, respectively. Both teams scored more goals than Ukraine. At the same time, it was Switzerland that topped the tournament table, thanks to the better goal difference.
Results of the first round in Division IA
- Hungary — Kazakhstan 2:5 (0:2, 2:1, 0:2)
- Slovenia — Ukraine 2:4 (1:2, 1:0, 0:2)
- Poland — Switzerland 1:6 (0:1, 0:1, 1:4)
Thus, it was the Swiss national team that took the lead before the second round of the World Cup, while Ukraine completed the first round of the World Cup in third place in the standings.
2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Division IA: standings
- Switzerland — 3 points, 1 match (6:1 — goal difference)
- Kazakhstan — 3 points, 1 match (5:2)
- Ukraine — 3 points, 1 match (4:2)
- Slovenia — 0 points, 1 match (2:4)
- Hungary — 0 points, 1 match (2:5)
- Poland — 0 points, 0 matches (1:6)
In the second round, the Ukrainian national team will face Hungary, while the “blue-yellow” rivals in the fight for the leadership of the tournament table, Switzerland and Kazakhstan, will meet Slovenia and Poland, respectively. All matches of the second round will be held on Sunday, April 19.