Switzerland Claims World Number One as 2026 World Ranking Is Released

Following the conclusion of the 2026 World Championship, the International Powerchair Hockey Committee (IPCH) has released the updated World Ranking, confirming significant movement among the world’s leading nations and underlining the growing competitiveness of international Powerchair Hockey.

The biggest story is Switzerland’s ascent to the top of the rankings. Starting the year in third place with 66.54 points, the reigning world champions more than doubled their tally to 145.34 points, overtaking both the Netherlands and Italy to become the new world number one.

The Netherlands, who entered 2026 as the highest-ranked nation, remain firmly among the sport’s elite with 124.67 points and now occupy second place. Italy continues its impressive rise, climbing from fourth to third with 123.04 points, leaving less than two points separating second and third.

Behind the leading trio, Germany and Finland have both enjoyed successful World Championship campaigns, moving up one position each to fourth and fifth respectively. Denmark experiences the largest drop among the top-ranked nations. Although their points total increased from 69.57 to 81.17, the performances of their rivals see them fall from second to sixth. Belgium maintains seventh place in the standings.

Further down the ranking, Spain strengthens its hold on eighth position with 56.73 points. Australia records the biggest rise outside the top eight, climbing from eleventh to ninth after an impressive tournament and overtaking both Canada and the Czech Republic. Canada moves to tenth, the Czech Republic drops to eleventh, while Slovenia retains twelfth place.

The updated ranking also demonstrates how competitive the international landscape has become. Switzerland, the Netherlands and Italy have established themselves as the leading group, yet fewer than 23 points separate first and third place. With every major tournament carrying valuable ranking points, the battle for the world’s number one position is set to remain fiercely contested.

As teams now turn their attention to the next cycle of international competitions, the 2026 World Ranking reflects not only the impact of an outstanding World Championship, but also the continued global growth and increasing standard of Powerchair Hockey.