The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has officially been recognised as the Guinness World Records title holder following the resounding success of the IIHF Global Girls’ Game (GGG) in mid-March.
The IIHF set the record for “most host countries for the same ice hockey exhibition match event” after staging an unprecedented 43 games simultaneously being played across the globe, including one in the UK at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham.
This achievement places the IIHF at the forefront of international efforts to grow the game and promote inclusivity in sport.
At the heart of this historic milestone was the Global Girls’ Game itself – an annual initiative aimed at encouraging female participation in ice hockey.
The 2026 edition brought together players from a wide range of nations including Japan, the Philippines, Portugal, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, Lithuania and, of course, the UK – demonstrating the sport’s expanding global reach.
Each participating country hosted its own exhibition match as part of the synchronised event, contributing to the record-breaking total. Team White secured overall victory against Team Blue based on cumulative results from all games played worldwide.
The successful Guinness World Records recognition follows the submission and verification of official documents, photos and video evidence from all participating locations. The confirmed record highlights both the scale and coordination behind the initiative.
IIHF President, Luc Tardif said: “This achievement reflects years of commitment to developing women’s hockey at all levels from grassroots programmes to international competition.
“The Global Girls’ Game continues to serve as a powerful platform to inspire young athletes and strengthen the global hockey community.”
With this new world record, the IIHF not only celebrates a historic accomplishment but also reinforces its mission to make ice hockey more accessible and inclusive worldwide.