2026 finalists set for rematch as 2027 World Ice Hockey Championship groups set

[p]The World Championship heads over the border to Germany for 2027, with matches being held in Dusseldorf and Mannheim, and is scheduled to take place between 14-30 May.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/finland/rRWMzYQu/"]Finland[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/switzerland/buO3jBAo/"]Switzerland[/a] have been drawn in Group A[/b], just as they were for last month's tournament, where the Swiss won the group match only for Finland to end their perfect run when the gold medals were on the line.[/p][p]A duel for the top two places in the group - let alone the tournament - is not guaranteed next time, as both sides will have to contend with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/vBLjQRXp/"]Sweden[/a] side looking to bounce back after an inconsistent performance last time out, and the hosts [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/germany/vgQVYBeh/"]Germany[/a], who will be aiming for a strong showing on home ice.[/p][embed guid="5617b1a1-014c-4541-946e-583283e640c4" url="https://x.com/IIHFHockey/status/2063911947649626416" social-type="twitter" /][p]Local rivalries make the headlines in Group B, [b]which features a North American derby between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/dSsR389c/"]Canada[/a] and the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/GYgp4SO3/"]USA[/a][/b], as 2026's surprise bronze medallists [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/norway/nDtCX9uB/"]Norway[/a] meet their near-neighbours [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/denmark/2mX8FleU/"]Denmark[/a], while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/czech-republic/OdY4GUuO/"]Czech Republic[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/slovakia/ruzLVmAN/"]Slovakia[/a] will both have ambitions of reaching the knockout stages.[/p][p]Returning to the top tier of international ice hockey are [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ukraine/IyqN4lfi/"]Ukraine[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kazakhstan/2uidn7vN/"]Kazakhstan[/a], who have replaced the relegated [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/great-britain/C2UJnT9A/"]Great Britain[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/italy/IqPZXVAb/"]Italy[/a], respectively.[/p][h2]2027 World Ice Hockey Championship Group Stage[/h2][p][b]Group A:[/b] Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Germany, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/latvia/44JaYkQ4/"]Latvia[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/austria/xWM7kVPi/"]Austria[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/slovenia/x2ZOU7PT/"]Slovenia[/a], Ukraine.[/p][p][b]Group B:[/b] Canada, USA, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Denmark, Norway, Kazakhstan, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hungary/fBiWomPG/"]Hungary[/a].[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/hockey/world/world-championship/"]Follow the World Ice Hockey Championship on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]