Italy has failed to stay in the top division. © Max Pattis/Vanna Antonello

Italy's relegation from the home World Cup is sealed.

Following their 3-6 defeat against Denmark on Saturday evening at the IIHF U18 World Championship Division 1, Group A, in Klobenstein, Italy's survival in the top division is mathematically impossible before the final matchday. Italy's young ice hockey players fought hard in Ritten, but the Scandinavians ultimately emerged victorious.

17 January 2026

From: pm

The crucial game started perfectly for Italy in front of 421 spectators, with Maddalena Bedont scoring to give them a 1-0 lead after just under ten minutes. That remained the score after the first 20 minutes. In the second period, the Danes turned the tide. Teresa O. Christensen first equalized (24:26), before Denmark's number 13 even put them ahead 2-1 on the power play. But the hosts' response was swift: Olivia de Bortoli leveled the score just 79 seconds later. The teams went into the locker rooms with the score tied for the second time.

The final period remained a nail-biter. Denmark initially held the momentum. Olivia Ranum scored in the 43rd minute, and shortly after, Teresa O. Christensen (48th, 46th minute) added her third goal of the evening on the power play to make it 4-2.

Italy was defeated. © Max Pattis/Vanna Antonello

Olivia de Bortoli immediately scored to make it 3-4, and Italy's hopes were rekindled. However, Olivia Olesen (57:33) and Freya Ekberg, with a goal into the empty net 35 seconds before the final whistle, secured Denmark's 6-3 victory in the closing stages.

Germany has the best trump cards

In the first match of the afternoon, Norway celebrated a 4-3 victory against France. After 40 minutes, the French were still leading 3-2, before the Scandinavians turned the game around with goals from Mille Are Ekstrom and Lotte Malm Larneng, securing their place in the top division.

Following this, the top match between the flawless Japanese team and Germany took place, the latter having slipped up in their first game against France (1-2 after extra time). Japan missed the opportunity to secure promotion – they would have needed to win this match to do so. In the end, Germany prevailed 2-1, now sitting atop the table with 10 points and able to clinch promotion to the Top Division with a win against Norway on Sunday (kick-off at 1 p.m.). At 4:30 p.m., France and Denmark face off, and the evening match at 8 p.m. features the "Azzurrine" once again taking on Japan.