Short answer
For 2026 the men’s field was the host (Italy), the top teams of the IIHF World Ranking (seven, plus France in place of banned Russia) and three winners of final qualification tournaments. The women’s field worked the same way with ten teams: Italy, five by ranking, and four through qualifying, France again replacing Russia.
The three routes
Host
The host nation gets a place in each tournament.
IIHF World Ranking
The top ranked teams qualify directly. The ranking is built from recent World Championships and the previous Olympics.
Final qualification tournaments
Lower ranked teams play qualifying rounds; the winners of the final qualification tournaments take the last places.
2026 men
| Route | Teams |
|---|---|
| Host | Italy |
| IIHF World Ranking of June 2, 2023 | Canada, Finland, United States, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Czechia |
| Replacement for banned Russia | France |
| Final qualification, August 29 to September 1, 2024 | Slovakia (won in Bratislava), Latvia (won in Riga), Denmark (won in Aalborg) |
2026 women
| Route | Teams |
|---|---|
| Host | Italy |
| IIHF Women’s World Ranking after the 2024 World Championship | Canada, United States, Finland, Czechia, Switzerland |
| Replacement for banned Russia | France |
| Final qualification, February 6 to 9, 2025 | Japan (Tomakomai), Sweden (Gävle), Germany (Bremerhaven) |
How the field size changed
- The men’s field ranged from 4 teams in 1932, when the Depression kept most of Europe home, to 16 in 1964.
- For 1998 and 2002 it grew to 14, so eight teams could play a preliminary round while the "Big Six" (Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, the United States) went straight to the final round.
- From 2006 it went back to 12 teams.
- The women’s field was 6 in 1998, 8 from 2002 to 2018 and 10 from 2022.
Who can play for a country: eligibility and the other rule differences. Full 2026 results: Milano Cortina 2026.
Questions people ask
How many teams play Olympic hockey?
Twelve men’s teams, the number used since 1976 except in 1998 and 2002, when it was 14. Ten women’s teams since 2022, up from eight.
Does the host country qualify automatically?
Yes. Italy received a host berth in both 2026 tournaments.
Why did France play in 2026?
Russia was banned from the 2026 tournaments after its invasion of Ukraine, and France took Russia’s place in both the men’s and women’s fields.
Sources
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Spotted an error? Results are checked against the linked sources; tell us through the corrections note on the about page.