From this Sunday, Budapest is hosting the World Ice Hockey Championship that runs over a week at the Papp László Budapest Sportaréna. At this Division I level, teams from Britain, Italy, Poland, Kazakhstan, Slovenia and hosts Hungary do battle for the right to compete in the main World Championship in Slovakia next year. With the sport’s big hitters – Canada, Russia, USA – gathering so close to Budapest in 2019, Hungary will be extra motivated to reach this elite level for only the third time since 1939.

Seven days, 15 matches and two places at stake for the elite-level World Ice Hockey Championship in Slovakia next year. There’s all to play for when six teams convene at Budapest’s Papp László Budapest Sportaréna, starting with Britain clashing sticks with Slovenia this Sunday at 12:30pm.

Later that same day, Hungary meet underdogs Kazakhstan and Poland take on Italy. For the rest of the week, there’s at least one game every day until the last match and potential decider, between Britain and Hungary, at 7:30pm on Sunday, April 28th.

After a poor showing last year, Hungary will be looking to perform better under incoming coach Jarmo Tolvanen, a Finn who led Hungarians Fehérvár AV19 to a play-off in the prestigious EBEL in 2010.

Britain last achieved hockey glory in the pre-war era, winning Olympic gold in 1936. The sport is currently enjoying a revival, attracting near 3,000 attendances for domestic league fixtures.

Here, Hungary’s five matches next week have already sold out. Tickets to games involving only Britain, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Kazakhstan are available from jegy.hu, priced between 2,500-6,900 HUF.

Papp László Budapest Sportaréna District XIV. Stefánia út 2 M2 Puskás Ferenc Stadion/tram 1

For tournament schedule and details, see the IIHF website.