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This article lists the performances of each of the 70 national teams which have made at least one appearance in the Ice Hockey World Championships, an annual international men's ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), including the Olympic ice hockey tournament was also considered the World Championship for that year, and was held before the first Ice Hockey World Championship as an individual event in 1930. With the exception between 1940 and 1946, when no championships were held during World War II, nor were held during the Olympic years 1980, 1984, and 1988. In 2020, the IIHF announced that all World Championship tournaments have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions-related issues.[1][2]

Sweden has appeared in 81 out of 86 tournaments to date, with Canada, having participated in 76, and Finland in 69. The United States has appeared in 74 top division tournaments and five in lower divisions. Although the U.S. was unsuccessful at the 1969 World Championship, finished in last place in Group A (now Top Division) after losing all ten games. This marks the first time in men's world's history, the United States was relegated to Group B (now Division I) until the 1970 World Championship, the U.S. bounce back and finished in first place in Group B (7th overall) after winning all seven games and was promoted back to Group A.

Canada is the current World Champion, defeating Germany in the gold medal game at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. Since the IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992, Switzerland has appeared in two World Championship gold medal games, finished as the runners-up after losing to Sweden twice in 2013 and 2018. The United States is the only "Big Six" team to have never advanced past the World Championship semifinals and never appeared in every World Championship gold medal game.

Debut of teams[]

A total of 62 national teams have participated for at least one IIHF World Championship through the 2023 event, and two debuted in 2023. Each successive IIHF World Championships has had at least one team appearing for the first time, in alphabetical order per year. Teams in parentheses are considered successor teams by the IIHF.

Notes:

  • Between 1920 and 1968, the Olympic ice hockey tournament was also considered the World Championship for that year.
  • Each of the national teams have made their debut that participate in the lower division of the World Championship.[lower-alpha 1]

Key:

  •   dagger   – The Summer Olympic Games Ice Hockey Tournament held that year counted as the World Championship
  •   *   – The Winter Olympic Games Ice Hockey Tournament held that year counted as the World Championship
Year Debutants Successor teams
Teams Number CT
1920 dagger Flag of Belgium Belgium, Flag of Canada-1868-Red Canada, Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia,[lower-alpha 2] Flag of France France, Flag of Sweden Sweden, Flag of Switzerland Switzerland, Flag of the United States United States of America 7 7
1924 * Flag of Great Britain United Kingdom 1 8
1928 * Flag of Austria Austria, Flag of Germany Germany,[lower-alpha 3] Flag of Hungary Hungary, Flag of Poland Poland 4 12
1930 Flag of Italy Italy, Flag of Japan Japan 2 14
1931 Flag of Romania Romania 1 15
1932 * None 0 15
1933 Flag of Latvia Latvia 1 16
1934 None 0 16
1935 Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands 1 17
1936 * None 0 17
1937 Flag of Norway Norway 1 18
1938 Flag of Lithuania Lithuania 1 19
1939 Flag of Finland Finland, Flag of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia[lower-alpha 4] 2 21
1940 No tournaments were held during World War II
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947 None 0 21
1948 *
1949 Flag of Denmark Denmark 1 22
1950 None 0 22
1951 Flag of SFR Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (Group B)[lower-alpha 4]
1952 *
1953 Flag of Germany West Germany[lower-alpha 3]
1954 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union[lower-alpha 5] 1 23
1955 None 0 23
1956 * Flag of East Germany East Germany (Group B)[lower-alpha 3] 1 24
1957 None 0 24
1958
1959
1960 * Flag of Australia Australia 1 25
1961 Flag of South Africa South Africa (Group C) 1 26
1962 None 0 26
1963 Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria (Group C) 1 27
1964 * None 0 27
1965
1966
1967
1968 *
1969
1970
1971
1972 Flag of China China (Group C) 1 28
1973 None 0 28
1974 Flag of North Korea North Korea (Group C) 1 29
1975 None 0 29
1976
1977 Flag of Spain Spain (Group C) 1 30
1978 None 0 30
1979 Flag of Korea South Korea (Group C) 1 31
1980 No tournaments were held during the 1980 Winter Olympic Games
1981 None 0 31
1982
1983
1984 No tournaments were held during the 1984 Winter Olympic Games
1985 None 0 31
1986
1987 Flag of Hong Kong Hong Kong (Group D), Flag of New Zealand New Zealand (Group D) 2[lower-alpha 6] 33
1988 No tournaments were held during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games
1989 None 0 33
1990
1991 Flag of Germany Germany[lower-alpha 3]
1992 Flag of Greece Greece (Group C2), Flag of Israel Israel (Group C2), Flag of Luxembourg Luxembourg (Group C2), Flag of Turkey Turkey (Group C2) 4 37 Flag of Russia Russia[lower-alpha 5]
1993 Flag of Belarus Belarus (Group C), Flag of Croatia Croatia (Group C), Flag of Estonia Estonia (Group C), Flag of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan (Group C), Flag of Slovenia Slovenia (Group C), Flag of Ukraine Ukraine (Group C) 6 43 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic[lower-alpha 2]
1994 Flag of Slovakia Slovakia (Group C1) 1 44
1995 None 0 44 Flag of Serbia and Montenegro FR Yugoslavia (Group C)[lower-alpha 4]
1996
1997
1998
1999 Flag of Iceland Iceland (Group D) 1 45
2000 Flag of Mexico Mexico (Group D) 1 46
2001 None 0 46
2002
2003 Flag of Serbia and Montenegro Serbia and Montenegro (Division II A)[lower-alpha 4]
2004 Flag of Armenia Armenia (Division III), Flag of Ireland Ireland (Division III) 2 48
2005 None 0 48
2006
2007 Flag of Mongolia Mongolia (Division III) 1 49 [[Image:{{{flag alias-2004}}}|22x20px|border |link=Serbia]] Serbia (Division II A)[lower-alpha 4]
2008 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia & Herzegovina (Division III Q) 1 50
2009 None 0 50
2010 Flag of the United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates (Division III) 1 51
2011 None 0 51
2012
2013 Flag of Georgia Georgia (Division III Q) 1 52
2014 None 0 52
2015
2016
2017 Flag of Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei (Division III)[lower-alpha 6] 1 53
2018 Flag of Kuwait Kuwait (Division III Q), Flag of Turkmenistan Turkmenistan (Division III Q) 2 55
2019 Flag of Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan (Division III Q), Flag of Thailand Thailand (Division III Q) 2 57
2020 Tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 All lower division tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Flag of Iran Iran (Division IV), Flag of Malaysia Malaysia (Division IV), Flag of Singapore

(Division IV)

3 60
2023 Flag of Indonesia Indonesia (Division IV), Flag of Philippines Philippines (Division IV) 2 62
2024 TBD TBD TBD
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030

With 62 national teams to have participated through the 2023 event, the IIHF World Championships is the third most participated men's world championship, behind the FIFA World Cup (80), and the FIBA Basketball World Cup (65), and ahead of the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship (60), the IHF World Men's Handball Championship (58), the Rugby World Cup (26), the Men's FIH Hockey World Cup (25), the World Baseball Classic (23), and the Cricket World Cup (20).

Ranking of teams by number of appearances[]

Team Number of appearances Debut Most recent Best result
Flag of Sweden Sweden 81 1920 2023 Champions (11 times)
Flag of Canada Canada 76 1920 2023 Champions (28 times)
Flag of the United States United States of America 74 (5 in lower divisions) 1920 2023 Champions (1933, 1960)
Flag of Finland Finland 69 1939 2023 Champions (1995, 2011, 2019, 2022)
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 55 (25 in lower divisions) 1920 2023 Runners-up (1935, 2013, 2018)
Flag of Norway Norway 38 (31 in lower divisions) 1937 2023 4th place (1951)
Flag of Austria Austria 34 (42 in lower divisions) 1928 2023 3rd place (1931, 1947)
Flag of France France 34 (34 in lower divisions) 1920 2023 6th place (1920, 1924, 1928, 1930)
Flag of Italy Italy 32 (37 in lower divisions) 1930 2023 4th place (1953)
Flag of Latvia Latvia 31 (4 in lower divisions) 1933 2023 3rd place (2023)
Flag of Poland Poland 29 (45 in lower divisions) 1928 2023 4th place (1931, 1932)
Flag of Slovakia Slovakia 27 (2 in lower divisions) 1994 2023 Champions (2002)
Flag of Denmark Denmark 21 (34 in lower divisions) 1949 2023 8th place (2010, 2016)
Flag of Belarus Belarus 20 (8 in lower divisions) 1993 2021 6th place (2006)
Flag of Great Britain United Kingdom 18 (42 in lower divisions) 1924 2023 Champions (1936)
Flag of Hungary Hungary 13 (53 in lower divisions) 1928 2023 5th place (1937)
Flag of Belgium Belgium 12 (45 in lower divisions) 1920 2023 7th place (1920, 1924, 1950)
Flag of Japan Japan 11 (46 in lower divisions) 1930 2023 6th place (1930)
Flag of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan 11 (19 in lower divisions) 1993 2023 10th place (2021)
Flag of Slovenia Slovenia 10 (19 in lower divisions) 1993 2023 13th place (2002, 2005)
Flag of Ukraine Ukraine 9 (20 in lower divisions) 1993 2023 9th place (2002)
Flag of Romania Romania 8 (56 in lower divisions) 1931 2023 7th place (1947)
Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands 4 (56 in lower divisions) 1935 2023 8th place (1950, 1981)
Flag of Australia Australia 1 (37* in lower divisions) 1960 2023 9th place (1960)
Flag of Korea South Korea 1 (36 in lower divisions) 1979 2023 16th place (2018)
Flag of Lithuania Lithuania 1 (29 in lower divisions) 1938 2023 10th place (1938)
Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria 0 (51 in lower divisions) 1963 2023 14th place (8th in Group B) (1970)
Flag of China China 0 (44 in lower divisions) 1972 2023 15th place (6th in Group B) (1982)
Flag of Spain Spain 0 (39 in lower divisions) 1977 2023 22nd place (5th in Group C) (1977)
Flag of South Africa South Africa 0 (30** in lower divisions) 1961 2023 19th place (3rd in Group C) (1966)
Flag of Israel Israel 0 (30 in lower divisions) 1992 2023 28th place (6th in Division I A) (2006)
Flag of Croatia Croatia 0 (29 in lower divisions) 1993 2023 24th place (4th in Division I A) (2001)
Flag of Estonia Estonia 0 (29 in lower divisions) 1993 2023 19th place (3rd in Group B) (1998)
Flag of New Zealand New Zealand 0 (27** in lower divisions) 1987 2023 27th place (3rd in Group D) (1987)
Flag of Turkey Turkey 0 (27** in lower divisions) 1992 2023 32nd place (6th in Group C2) (1992)
Flag of North Korea North Korea 0 (27 in lower divisions) 1974 2019 21st place (5th in Group C) (1990)
Flag of Iceland Iceland 0 (23 in lower divisions) 1999 2023 30th place (2nd in Division II A) (2014)
Flag of Luxembourg Luxembourg 0 (22 in lower divisions) 1992 2023 31st place (5th in Group C2) (1992)
Flag of Mexico Mexico 0 (22 in lower divisions) 2000 2023 35th place (4th in Division II B) (2008)
Flag of Greece Greece 0 (12 in lower divisions) 1992 2013 29th place (3rd in Group C2) (1992)
Flag of Ireland Ireland 0 (10 in lower divisions) 2004 2013 40th place (6th in Division II B) (2008)
Flag of Georgia Georgia 0 (9 in lower divisions) 2013 2023 30th place (2nd in Division II A) (2023)
Flag of the United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates 0 (9 in lower divisions) 2010 2023 35th place (1st in Division II B) (2023)
Flag of Hong Kong Hong Kong 0 (8 in lower divisions) 1987 2023 28th place (4th in Group D) (1987)
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia & Herzegovina 0 (7 in lower divisions) 2008 2023 44th place (3rd in Division III B) (2022)
Flag of Mongolia Mongolia 0 (6 in lower divisions) 2007 2023 45th place (5th in Division III) (2007)
Flag of Armenia Armenia 0 (5 in lower divisions) 2004 2010 43rd place (3rd in Division III) (2006)
Flag of Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei 0 (5*** in lower divisions) 2017 2023 40th place (4th in Division III A) (2022)
Flag of Kuwait Kuwait 0 (4 in lower divisions) 2018 2023 49th place (5th in Division IV) (2022)
Flag of Turkmenistan Turkmenistan 0 (4 in lower divisions) 2018 2023 39th place (3rd in Division III A) (2022)
Flag of Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan 0 (3 in lower divisions) 2019 2023 45th place (1st in Division IV) (2022)
Flag of Thailand Thailand 0 (3 in lower divisions) 2019 2023 43rd place (2nd in Division III B) (2022)
Flag of Iran Iran 0 (2 in lower divisions) 2022 2023 46th place (2nd in Division IV) (2022)
Flag of Malaysia Malaysia 0 (2 in lower divisions) 2022 2023 48th place (4th in Division IV) (2022)
Flag of Singapore 0 (2 in lower divisions) 2022 2023 47th place (3rd in Division IV) (2022)
Flag of Indonesia Indonesia 0 (1 in lower divisions) 2023 2023 55th place (4th in Division IV) (2023)
Flag of Philippines Philippines 0 (1 in lower divisions) 2023 2023 52th place (1st in Division IV) (2023)
*Including participation in official qualifying competition for 1964 World Championships/Olympics.
**Not including participation in unofficial Group E 1997 Men's World Championships.
***Not including unofficial participation in the Pool D at 1987 World Championships.
Breakdown of successor teams
Team Number of appearances Debut Most recent Best result
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic (1993–) 30 1993 2023 Champions (6 times)
Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia (1920–1992) 52 1920 1992 Champions (6 times)
Team Number of appearances Debut Most recent Best result
Flag of GermanyFlag of GermanyFlag of GermanyFlag of Germany Germany (1928–1939), (1952 Winter Olympics), (1991–) 40 (3 in lower divisions) 1928 2023 Runners-up (1930, 2003)
German Olympic flag (1959-1968) United Team of Germany (1956–1964) 3 1956 1964 6th place (1956, 1960)
Flag of Germany West Germany (1951–1990) 24 (9* in lower divisions) 1953 1990 Runners-up (1953)
Flag of East Germany East Germany (1951–1990) 14 (16** in lower divisions) 1956 1990 5th place (1957, 1965, 1966, 1970)
*Including participation in 3 official qualifying competitions for World Championships/Olympics 1956, 1960, 1964 where United Team of Germany played.
**Including participation in 2 official qualifying competitions for World Championships/Olympics 1960, 1964 where United Team of Germany played (1956 counted as usual as East Germany played in the Pool B at 1956 World Championships).
Team Number of appearances Debut Most recent Best result
Russian Olympic Committee flag ROC[lower-alpha 7] (2021–) 1 2021 2021 5th place (2021)
Flag of Russia Russia (1992–2019) 28 1992 2019 Champions (5 times)
Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union (1954–1991) 34 1954 1991 Champions (22 times)
Team Number of appearances Debut Most recent Best result
Flag of Serbia Serbia (2007–) 0 (15 in lower divisions) 2007 2023 26th place (5th in Division I B) (2022)
Flag of Serbia and Montenegro Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006) 0 (4 in lower divisions) 2003 2006 31st place (2nd in Division II Group A) (2003)
Flag of Serbia and Montenegro FR Yugoslavia (1995–2002) 0 (7 in lower divisions) 1995 2002 28th place (8th in Group C) (1995)
Flag of the Kingdom of YugoslaviaFlag of SFR Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (1939), (1951–1991) 1 (30 in lower divisions) 1939 1991 13th place (1939)

Also Switzerland "B" team played at the 1953 Ice Hockey World Championships in the Pool B, West Germany "B" team played at the 1955 Ice Hockey World Championships in the Pool B, Czechoslovakia "B" team played at the 1959 Ice Hockey World Championships in the Pool B and Yugoslavia "B" team played at the 1966 Ice Hockey World Championships in the Pool C but its results were not official and not counted in the final tables.

Results of host nations[]

Year Host nation(s) Finish
1920 dagger Flag of Belgium Belgium 7th place
1924 * Flag of France France 6th place
1928 * Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 3rd place
1930 Flag of Germany Germany Runners-up
Flag of Austria Austria 4th place
Flag of France France 6th place (tie)
1931 Flag of Poland Poland 4th place
1932 * Flag of the United States United States of America Runners-up
1933 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 3rd place
1934 Flag of Italy Italy 9th place
1935 Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Runners-up
1936 * Flag of Germany Germany 5th place
1937 Flag of Great Britain United Kingdom Runners-up
1938 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 3rd place
1939 Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 3rd place
1947 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Champions
1948 * Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 3rd place
1949 Flag of Sweden Sweden 4th place
1950 Flag of Great Britain United Kingdom 4th place
1951 Flag of France France 9th place
(2nd in Group B)
1952 * Flag of Norway Norway 9th place
1953 Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 3rd place
1954 Flag of Sweden Sweden 3rd place
1955 Flag of Germany West Germany 6th place
1956 * Flag of Italy Italy 7th place
1957 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union Runners-up
1958 Flag of Norway Norway 8th place
1959 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 3rd place
1960 * Flag of the United States United States of America Champions
1961 Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 11th place
(3rd in Group B)
1962 Flag of the United States United States of America 3rd place
1963 Flag of Sweden Sweden Runners-up
1964 * Flag of Austria Austria 13th place
(5th in Group B)
1965 Flag of Finland Finland 7th place
1966 Flag of SFR Yugoslavia Yugoslavia 11th place
(3rd in Group B)
1967 Flag of Austria Austria 14th place
(6th in Group B)
1968 * Flag of France France 14th place
(6th in Group B)
1969 Flag of Sweden Sweden Runners-up
1970
1971 Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 7th place
(1st in Group B)
(promoted to 1972 Group A)
1972 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Champions
1973 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union Champions
1974 Flag of Finland Finland 4th place
1975 Flag of Germany West Germany 8th place
(2nd in Group B)
(promoted to 1976 Group A)

Year Host nation(s) Finish Last round
1976 Flag of Poland Poland 7th place
(relegated to 1977 Group B)
Consolation round
1977 Flag of Austria Austria 17th place
(9th in Group B)
(relegated to 1978 Group C)
Lower division
1978 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Runners-up Final round
1979 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union Champions Final round
1981 Flag of Sweden Sweden Runners-up Final round
1982 Flag of Finland Finland 5th place First round
1983 Flag of Germany West Germany 5th place Consolation round
1985 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Champions Final round
1986 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union Champions Final round
1987 Flag of Austria Austria 11th place
(3rd in Group B)
Lower division
1989 Flag of Sweden Sweden 4th place Final round
1990 Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 9th place
(1st in Group B)
(promoted to 1991 Group A)
Lower division
1991 Flag of Finland Finland 5th place Consolation round
1992 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 3rd place Final round
1993 Flag of Germany Germany 5th place Final round
1994 Flag of Italy Italy 6th place Final round
1995 Flag of Sweden Sweden Runners-up Final round
1996 Flag of Austria Austria 12th place
(relegated to 1997 Group B)
Consolation round
1997 Flag of Finland Finland 5th place Second round
1998 Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 4th place Final round
1999 Flag of Norway Norway 12th place Consolation round
2000 Flag of Russia Russia 10th place Preliminary round
2001 Flag of Germany Germany 8th place Playoff round
2002 Flag of Sweden Sweden 3rd place Playoff round
2003 Flag of Finland Finland 8th place Playoff round
2004 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 5th place Playoff round
2005 Flag of Austria Austria 16th place
(relegated to 2006 Division I B)
Relegation round
2006 Flag of Latvia Latvia 10th place Preliminary round
2007 Flag of Russia Russia 3rd place Playoff round
2008 Flag of Canada Canada Runners-up Playoff round
2009 Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 9th place Preliminary round
2010 Flag of Germany Germany 4th place Playoff round
2011 Flag of Slovakia Slovakia 10th place Preliminary round
2012 Flag of Finland Finland 4th place Playoff round
Flag of Sweden Sweden 6th place Playoff round
2013 Flag of Sweden Sweden Champions Playoff round
Flag of Finland Finland 4th place Playoff round
2014 Flag of Belarus Belarus 7th place Playoff round
2015 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 4th place Playoff round
2016 Flag of Russia Russia 3rd place Playoff round
2017 Flag of Germany Germany 8th place Playoff round
Flag of France France 9th place Preliminary round
2018 Flag of Denmark Denmark 10th place Preliminary round
2019 Flag of Slovakia Slovakia 9th place Preliminary round
2021 Flag of Latvia Latvia 11th place Preliminary round
2022 Flag of Finland Finland Champions Playoff round
2023 Flag of Finland Finland 7th place Playoff round
Flag of Latvia Latvia 3rd place Playoff round
2024 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic TBD TBD
2025 Flag of Denmark Denmark TBD TBD
Flag of Sweden Sweden TBD TBD
2026 Flag of Switzerland Switzerland TBD TBD
2027 Flag of None TBD TBD TBD
2028 Flag of None TBD TBD TBD
2029 Flag of None TBD TBD TBD
2030 Flag of None TBD TBD TBD

Results of defending champions[]

Year Defending champions Finish
1924 * Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Champions
1928 * Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Champions
1930 Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Champions
1931 Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Champions
1932 * Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Champions
1933 Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Runners-up
1934 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1912}}}|22x20px|border |link=United States of America]] United States of America Runners-up
1935 Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Champions
1936 * Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Runners-up
1937 Flag of Great Britain United Kingdom Runners-up
1938 Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Champions
1939 Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Champions
1947 Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Did not participate
1948 * Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Runners-up
1949 Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Runners-up
1950 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Did not participate
1951 Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Champions
1952 * Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Champions
1953 Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada Did not participate
1954 Flag of Sweden Sweden 3rd place
1955 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1936}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Runners-up
1956 * Canadian Red Ensign 1921 Canada 3rd place
1957 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Runners-up
1958 Flag of Sweden Sweden 3rd place
1959 Canadian Red Ensign Canada Champions
1960 * Canadian Red Ensign Canada Runners-up
1961 Flag of the United States United States of America 6th place
1962 Canadian Red Ensign Canada Runners-up
1963 Flag of Sweden Sweden Runners-up
1964 * [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Champions
1965 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Champions
1966 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Champions
1967 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Champions
1968 * [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Champions
1969 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Champions
1970 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Champions
1971 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Champions
1972 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Runners-up
1973 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 3rd place
1974 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Champions
1975 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Champions

Year Defending champions Finish Last round
1976 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Runners-up Final round
1977 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Champions Final round
1978 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Runners-up Final round
1979 [[Image:{{{flag alias-1955}}}|22x20px|border |link=Soviet Union]] Soviet Union Champions Final round
1981 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union Champions Final round
1982 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union Champions Final round
1983 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union Champions Final round
1985 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union 3rd place Final round
1986 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 5th place Consolation round
1987 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union Runners-up Final round
1989 Flag of Sweden Sweden 4th place Final round
1990 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union Champions Final round
1991 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union 3rd place Final round
1992 Flag of Sweden Sweden Champions Final round
1993 Flag of Sweden Sweden Runners-up Final round
1994 Flag of Russia Russia 5th place Final round
1995 Flag of Canada Canada 3rd place Final round
1996 Flag of Finland Finland 5th place Final round
1997 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 3rd place Final round
1998 Flag of Canada Canada 6th place Final round
1999 Flag of Sweden Sweden 3rd place Final round
2000 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic Champions Playoff round
2001 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic Champions Playoff round
2002 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 5th place Playoff round
2003 Flag of Slovakia Slovakia 3rd place Playoff round
2004 Flag of Canada Canada Champions Playoff round
2005 Flag of Canada Canada Runners-up Playoff round
2006 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic Runners-up Playoff round
2007 Flag of Sweden Sweden 4th place Playoff round
2008 Flag of Canada Canada Runners-up Playoff round
2009 Flag of Russia Russia Champions Playoff round
2010 Flag of Russia Russia Runners-up Playoff round
2011 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 3rd place Playoff round
2012 Flag of Finland Finland 4th place Playoff round
2013 Flag of Russia Russia 6th place Playoff round
2014 Flag of Sweden Sweden 3rd place Playoff round
2015 Flag of Russia Russia Runners-up Playoff round
2016 Flag of Canada Canada Champions Playoff round
2017 Flag of Canada Canada Runners-up Playoff round
2018 Flag of Sweden Sweden Champions Playoff round
2019 Flag of Sweden Sweden 5th place Playoff round
2021 Flag of Finland Finland Runners-up Playoff round
2022 Flag of Canada Canada Runners-up Playoff round
2023 Flag of Finland Finland 7th place Playoff round

Medal table[]

Countries in italics no longer compete at the World Championships.[4]

Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Flag of Canada Canada 28 16 9 53
2 Flag of Russia Russia 5 3 5 13
Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union 22 7 5 34
Total: 27 10 10 47
3 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 6 1 6 13
Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 6 12 16 34
Total: 12 13 22 47
4 Flag of Sweden Sweden 11 19 17 47
5 Flag of Finland Finland 4 9 3 16
6 Flag of the United States United States of America 2 9 9 20
7 Flag of Great Britain United Kingdom 1 2 2 5
8 Flag of Slovakia Slovakia 1 2 1 4
9 Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 0 3 8 11
10 Flag of Germany Germany 0 2 2 4
Flag of Germany West Germany 0 1 0 1
Total: 0 3 2 5
11 Flag of Austria Austria 0 0 2 2
12 Flag of Latvia Latvia 0 0 1 1
Totals (15 nations) 86 86 86 258

Droughts[]

This section is a list of droughts associated with the participation of men's national ice hockey teams in the IIHF World Championships, including final appearance and world champion droughts up to and including the 2023 IIHF World Championship. Those teams which have not participated in any World Championship are listed by the year that they entered the IIHF tournaments.

Note:

  • Does not include droughts between 1940 and 1946, when no championships were held during World War II, nor were held during the Olympic years 1980, 1984, and 1988, and 2020 championships were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Longest active final droughts[]

Does not include two teams that made the 2023 Final: Canada and Germany.

Team Last appearance in the final Subsequent semifinal losses Drought
Flag of the United States United States of America Never (IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992) 12 (1994, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023) 33
years
Flag of Latvia Latvia Never (IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992) 1 (2023) 33
years
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 2010 5 (2011, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2022) 14
years
Flag of Slovakia Slovakia 2012 0 12
years
Russian Olympic Committee flag ROC[lower-alpha 7] 2015 3 (2016, 2017, 2019) 9
years
Flag of Sweden Sweden 2018 0 6
years
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 2018 0 6
years
Flag of Finland Finland 2022 0 1 year

Longest all-time final droughts[]

     Active final drought is highlighted

Team Prev. appearance in the final Intervening semifinal losses Next appearance in the final Drought
Flag of the United States United States of America Never (IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992) 12 (1994, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023) active 32 years
Flag of Latvia Latvia Never (IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992) 1 (2023) active 32 years
Flag of Germany Germany Never (IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992) 2 (2010, 2021) 2023 31 years
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Never (IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992) 2 (1992, 1998) 2013 21 years
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 2010 5 (2011, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2022) active 13 years
Flag of Slovakia Slovakia 2012 0 active 11 years
Russian Olympic Committee flag ROC[lower-alpha 7] 1993 0 2002 8 years
Flag of Canada Canada 2009 0 2015 5 years
1997 0 2003
Flag of Sweden Sweden 2018 0 active 5 years
Flag of Finland Finland 2001 1 (2002) 2006 4 years

Longest active champion droughts[]

Does not include the most-recent World Champion: Finland.

Team Last Champion Subsequent Final losses Drought
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Never (debut in 1920) 2 (2013, 2018) 105
years
Flag of Great Britain United Kingdom 1936 Never 88
years
Flag of the United States United States of America 1960 Never 64
years
Flag of Slovakia Slovakia 2002 1 (2012) 22
years
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 2010 0 14
years
Russian Olympic Committee flag ROC[lower-alpha 7] 2014 1 (2015) 10
years
Flag of Sweden Sweden 2018 0 6
years
Flag of Canada Canada 2021 1 (2022) 1 year

Longest all-time champion droughts[]

     Active champion drought is highlighted

Team Prev. champion Intervening final losses Next champion Drought
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Never (debut in 1920) 2 (2013, 2018) active 104 years
Flag of Great Britain United Kingdom 1936 Never active 87 years
Flag of the United States United States of America 1960 Never active 63 years
Flag of Canada Canada 1961 Never 1994 32 years
Flag of Sweden Sweden 1962 Never 1987 24 years
Flag of Slovakia Slovakia 2002 1 (2012) active 21 years
Flag of Finland Finland 1995 4 (1998, 1999, 2001, 2007) 2011 15 years
Russian Olympic Committee flag ROC[lower-alpha 7] 1993 1 (2002) 2008 14 years
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 2010 0 active 13 years

Longest active appearance droughts[]

Does not include teams that have not made their first appearance. Does not include droughts when all lower division tournaments were cancelled for two years (2020–2021) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Team Last appearance WC Missed
Flag of Armenia Armenia[lower-alpha 8] 2010 (Division III B) 13
Flag of Greece Greece[lower-alpha 9] 2013 (Division III) 10
Flag of Ireland Ireland[lower-alpha 10] 2013 (Division III) 10
Flag of North Korea North Korea[lower-alpha 11] 2019 (Division II B) 4
Flag of Belarus Belarus 2021 3
Russian Olympic Committee flag ROC[lower-alpha 7] 2021 3

Longest all-time appearance droughts[]

Only includes droughts begun after a team's first appearance and until the team ceased to exist. Updated to include participation for the 2023 World Championships.

     Active appearance drought is highlighted

Team Prev. appearance Next appearance WC Missed
Flag of Lithuania Lithuania[lower-alpha 12] 1938 1993 (Group C) 44
Flag of Latvia Latvia[lower-alpha 12] 1939 1993 (Group C) 43
Flag of Hong Kong Hong Kong 1987 (Group D) 2014 (Division III) 25
Flag of South Africa South Africa 1966 (Group C) 1992 (Group C2) 22
Flag of Japan Japan 1936 1957 13
Flag of Denmark Denmark 1949 1962 (Group B) 12
Flag of Hungary Hungary 1939 1959 (Group B) 12
Flag of Armenia Armenia 2010 (Division III B) active 12
Flag of Australia Australia 1962 (Group B) 1974 (Group C) 11
Flag of Romania Romania 1947 1959 (Group B) 11
Flag of Greece Greece 2013 (Division III) active 9
Flag of Ireland Ireland 2013 (Division III) active 9
Flag of Mongolia Mongolia 2013 (Division III Q) 2023 (Division IV) 8
Flag of North Korea North Korea 1993 (Group C) 2002 (Division II Q) 8
Flag of Luxembourg Luxembourg 1992 (Group C2) 2000 (Group D) 7
Flag of Canada Canada[lower-alpha 13] 1969 1977 7
Flag of Great Britain United Kingdom 1953 (Group B) 1961 (Group B) 7
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia & Herzegovina 2008 (Division III Q) 2015 (Division III) 6
Flag of New Zealand New Zealand 1989 (Group D) 1995 (Group C2) 5
Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands 1955 (Group B) 1961 (Group C) 5
Flag of Germany Germany[lower-alpha 3] 1939 1952 5
Flag of France France 1937 1950 5
Flag of SFR Yugoslavia Yugoslavia 1939 1951 (Group B) 4
Flag of China China 1974 (Group C) 1978 (Group C) 3
Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria 1963 (Group C) 1967 (Group C) 3
Flag of Norway Norway 1938 1949 3
Flag of Sweden Sweden 1931 1935 3
Flag of the United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates 2010 (Division III A) 2013 (Division III) 2
Flag of Korea South Korea 1982 (Group C) 1986 (Group C) 2
Flag of Italy Italy 1961 (Group B) 1964 (Group B) 2
1956 1959
1936 1939
1930 1933
Flag of Poland Poland 1952 1955 2
Flag of the United States United States of America 1952 1955 2
1924 1931
Flag of Belgium Belgium 1952 (Group B) 1955 (Group B) 2
Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 1949 1952 2
Flag of Finland Finland 1939 1949 2
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 1930 1933 2
Flag of Belarus Belarus 2021 suspended 2
Russian Olympic Committee flag ROC[lower-alpha 7] 2021 suspended 2
Flag of Turkey Turkey 2000 (Group D) 2002 (Division II A) 1
1994 (Group C2) 1996 (Group D)
Flag of Serbia and Montenegro FR Yugoslavia[lower-alpha 14] 1998 (Group C) 2000 (Group C) 1
Flag of Spain Spain 1986 (Group C) 1989 (Group D) 1
1979 (Group C) 1982 (Group C)
Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union 1961 1963 1
Flag of East Germany East Germany[lower-alpha 3] 1961 1963 1
1957 1959
Flag of Austria Austria 1959 (Group B) 1961 (Group B) 1
1957 1959 (Group B)
1953 (Group B) 1955 (Group B)
1949 1951 (Group B)
1938 1947
1936 1938

Teams with no IIHF World Championship appearances[]

22 out of 83 current IIHF members have not entered in any World Championship tournaments.

Nation IIHF Member since Notes
Flag of Algeria Algeria* 2019 Participated in the Arab Cup in 2008 and the IIHF Development Cup in 2022.
Flag of Andorra Andorra* 1995 Hosted the 1997 IIHF World Championship Group D tournament in Canillo. Participated in the IIHF Development Cup since 2017.
Flag of Argentina Argentina* 1998 Participated in the now-defunct Pan American Tournament from 2014 to 2017, the Amerigol LATAM Cup since 2018 and the IIHF Development Cup in 2023.
Flag of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan 1992 There is no national team and Azerbaijan has not registered at least one player, nor entered in any IIHF tournaments due to lack of ice rinks and ice hockey activities in the country.
Flag of Brazil Brazil* 1984 Participated in the now-defunct Pan American Tournament from 2014 to 2017 and the Amerigol LATAM Cup since 2018.
Flag of Chile Chile** 1999 Participated in the now-defunct Pan American Tournament in 2017. Currently an IIHF affiliate member and therefore only to participate in the now-defunct IIHF Inline Hockey World Championship. Their last appearance was 2015. Due to the cancellation of the 2019 IIHF Inline Hockey World Championship, the IIHF can no longer govern inline hockey.[8]
Flag of Colombia Colombia* 2019 Participated in the now-defunct Pan American Tournament from 2014 to 2017, the Amerigol LATAM Cup since 2018 and the IIHF Development Cup since 2022.
Flag of India India 1989 Only participated in the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia from 2009 to 2018. India has not been active since 2018.
Flag of Jamaica Jamaica* 2012 Jamaica became the first Caribbean nation to join the IIHF on 18 May 2012.[9] Participated in the Amerigol LATAM Cup in 2019.
Flag of Lebanon Lebanon* 2019 Played four exhibition games against other national teams in 2017. Participated in the Arab Cup in 2023.
Flag of Liechtenstein Liechtenstein* 2001 Played two exhibition games, lost twice to Luxembourg in 2003 and 2007. Participated in the IIHF Development Cup since 2022.
Flag of Macau Macau* 2005 Participated in the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia from 2008 to 2019 and the Asian Winter Games in 2007 and 2017.
Flag of Moldova Moldova* 2008 There is no national team and Moldova has not registered at least one player.
Flag of Morocco Morocco* 2010 Participated in the Arab Cup in 2008 and the IIHF Development Cup in 2017.
Flag of Nepal Nepal* 2016 Unknown
Flag of Macedonia FYR Macedonia* 2001 Played two exhibition games against Bosnia & Herzegovina over the weekend. They won the first game 8–7 and lost the second game 7–6 in overtime a day later.[10] Participated in the IIHF Development Cup in 2018.
Flag of Oman Oman* 2014 Participated in the GCC Gulf Championship from 2010 to 2016, the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia from 2015 to 2019 and the Arab Cup in 2023.
Flag of Portugal Portugal* 1999 Participated in the IIHF Development Cup since 2017.
Flag of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico* 2022 Participated in the Amerigol LATAM Cup since 2019.
Flag of Qatar Qatar* 2012 Participated in the GCC Gulf Championship in 2014 and 2016, the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia Division I in 2016 and the Asian Winter Games in 2017. Qatar has not been active since 2017.
Flag of Tunisia Tunisia* 2021 Participated in the Arab Cup in 2023.
Flag of Uzbekistan Uzbekistan* 2019 Represented the Uzbek SSR at the Winter Spartakiad from 1978 to 1986. Uzbekistan has not been active since the USSR being dissolved in 1991 and therefore has not played an official game against other national team so far.

* – IIHF associate member, ** – IIHF affiliate member

Notes[]

  1. Steiss, Adam (2 March 2020). IIHF cancels March tournaments. International Ice Hockey Federation.
  2. Steiss, Adam (21 March 2020). 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship cancelled. International Ice Hockey Federation.
  3. 2014-2018 IIHF Statutes and Bylaws. IIHF.com.
  4. IIHF - Medallists.
  5. Merk, Martin (22 January 2022). Australian teams withdrawn. International Ice Hockey Federation.
  6. Merk, Martin (2 February 2022). New Zealand withdraws. International Ice Hockey Federation.
  7. Merk, Martin (3 February 2022). DPR Korea withdraws teams. International Ice Hockey Federation.
  8. Merk, Martin (24 June 2019). Statutes, Regulations amended. International Ice Hockey Federation.
  9. [tt_news=6968&cHash=5af994a09a572588d575ce4455a79e6d Welcome Jamaica & Qatar]. IIHF.com (18 May 2012).
  10. Macedonia wins and loses in OT in Bosnia and Hercegovina. Eurohockey.com (22 January 2018).

References[]

External links[]

This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at National team appearances in the Ice Hockey World Championships. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA).



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