2026 IIHF World Championship Odds and Predictions: Canada and USA Clash in the Quarters

The 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland is into the quarterfinals. Despite several upsets and exciting group stage games, there are few surprises as we approach the quarter-finals on Thursday.

Canada, the pre-tournament favorite in the IIHF World Championship odds, meets the United States in a rematch of the 2026 Olympics Gold Medal Game, albeit with quite different rosters. Host Switzerland, last year’s runner-up, finished first in its group and will play Sweden, which snuck into the final quarter-final spot following a 4-2 win over Slovakia.

With NHL talent availability, group draws, and roster changes all influencing expectations, the odds market will continue to shift dramatically up until and beyond the quarterfinals. To stay on top of every matchup, you can download your printable 2026 IIHF World Championship bracket and record each result as it happens.

🏒 IIHF World Championship odds

Team	Opening Odds	Current Odds	Implied Probability	Trend
Canada	+125	+110	47.62%	📉
Switzerland	+500	+160	38.46%	📉
Finland	+500	+400	20.00%	📉
Norway	+35000	+3300	2.94%	📉

Odds provided by bet365 – accurate as of May 28

Hockey World Championship odds favorites

  Canada | +110

Canada hasn’t medaled at the IIHF World Championship since 2023 and has had some major upsets along the way. Yet, even with a disappointing loss in the gold medal game of the 2026 Olympics, they still boast the most game-breaking superstars of any country. That’s evident even on this roster.

Jason Spezza and Brad Treliving secured commitments from Macklin Celebrini, a contender in the Hart Trophy odds, and veteran stars like John Tavares, Robert Thomas, and Mark Scheifele. They also recently added Pittsburgh Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby.

With a roster this deep, it’s no wonder Canada has the shortest IIHF World Championship odds. The only problem they may run into is hot goaltending, which derailed their gold medal aspirations in 2025 when they lost 2-1 to Denmark in the quarter-finals.

Canada secured first place in Group B and beat the US in the quarter-finals. They’ll play Finland in the semifinals on Saturday.

  Switzerland | +160

Switzerland isn’t usually favored this much in international hockey, but considering they’re the hosts and runners-up in each of the last two years it’s no surprise they have the second-shortest IIHF World Championship odds. The Swiss roster is stacked with veteran NHLers, including New Jersey Devils star players Nico Hischier and Timo Meier, and they were a perfect 7-0-0 in the group stage, outscoring their opposition 39-7.

The Swiss beat the Swedes 3-1 the quarterfinals with key goals from Roman Josi and Denis Malgin. They remain perfect in the tournament and get a favorable matchup against Norway in the semifinals.

IIHF World Championship odds sleeper

  Norway | +3300

Don’t sleep on Norway as a sneaky value play in the IIHF World Championship. Their World Championship odds still trail the traditional powers, but Norway finished second in Group B, securing a quarterfinal match against Latvia, which finished third in Group A.

Even with an impressive OT victory over Denmark on the final day of group stage play, Norway saw their IIHF World Championship odds lengthen from +5000 to +6000. In a typical best-on-best setting such as the Olympics, they would realistically have no shot at a medal, but there’s a clear path for Norway to secure its first-ever medal at the World Championships – and even win the tournament.

They were a toss-up in the IIHF World Championship odds for their QF match against Latvia, with bet365 pricing both teams at -110 on the moneyline. However, they continued to showcase elite defense and goaltending along with timely scoring, securing a 2-0 victory to advance to the semifinals for the third time in their history.

Other IIHF World Championship odds markets

In addition to outright winner and individual game markets, you can find IIHF World Championship odds for winning continent (North America -130 at bet365), to win group, top 3 finish, and stage of elimination.

Two teams will also be relegated from the 16-team IIHF World Championship in 2026. You can bet on the relegation market at select sportsbooks, with Italy (-134), Great Britain (-105), and Hungary (-105) among the favorites to not be playing at the 2027 IIHF World Championship in Germany.

France and Kazakhstan were relegated to Division I after finishing last in their respective groups in 2025.

For individual games, you can compile your own SGPs or give our Canada vs Sweden same game parlay and USA vs Switzerland same game parlay a shot.

IIHF World Championship odds: top goalscorer

The IIHF World Championship odds for the top goalscorer market is heating up with several players in contention, headlined by Canada’s captain Macklin Celebrini. With plenty of games left in the group stage and beyond, there’s great value well down the list.

Rudolfs Balcers (LAT) led all players with seven goals through the quarterfinals. Macklin Celebrini (CAN) and Tinus Luc Koblar (NOR) were tied for second with six goals.

2026 IIHF World Championship format

The 2026 IIHF World Championship features two groups of 8 teams in a preliminary round, where each team plays round-robin games. The top four from each group advance to a knockout stage (quarterfinals, semifinals, medal games).

Performance here often shapes IIHF World Championship odds heading into the elimination rounds.

IIHF World Championship Groups

Group A	Group B
USA	Canada
Switzerland	Sweden
Finland	Czechia
Germany	Denmark
Latvia	Slovakia
Austria	Norway
Hungary	Slovenia
Great Britain	Italy

IIHF World Championship Odds for Semifinals

SF1: Finland (+150) vs. Canada (-180)

Canada and Finland finished second and first in their respective groups and have just one loss between them at the World Championship. This is the marquee matchup in the semifinals and the winner will surely be favoured in IIHF World Championship odds in the gold medal game.

The Finns, led by perennial Selke Trophy odds favourite Aleksander Barkov, beat Czechia 4-1 in the quarters after a near perfect group stage performance with their only loss against Switzerland. Goaltender Jet Greaves had a shutout for Canada in its 4-0 quarterfinal win against the US.

Canada hasn’t medaled in this tournament since 2023 and it’s clear it’s gold or bust for this group, especially Crosby and Celebrini, who are looking for some form of redemption after a loss in the gold medal game at the Olympics. I’d back Canada here in a low-scoring affair.

SF2: Norway (+750) vs. Switzerland (-1200)

It’s clear oddsmakers have no idea what to do with Norway. They were one of the biggest surprises in the tournament, entering with the third-shortest IIHF World Championship odds only to finish second in their group with a record of 4-1-1-1. They only had one regulation loss and were the only team to take a point from Canada.

They’ve continued to exceed expectations at every turn, but it’s hard to see them continuing their miracle run against host Switzerland. The Swiss have been to consecutive finals at the World Championship, while Norway has never medaled at the event. However, this appears to be a team of destiny and if there’s ever a chance to capitalize on a longshot +750 play this might be it.

How are IIHF World Championship odds determined?

IIHF World Championship odds are set by sportsbooks using a mix of statistical models and expert judgment. They evaluate team strength based on recent results, roster quality (including NHL participation), injuries, and historical performance. Canada, with a loaded roster of NHL players whose teams aren’t contending in Stanley Cup odds, unsurprisingly opens as this year’s favorite.

Odds shift throughout the tournament as teams perform, reflecting updated probabilities and betting patterns, with heavy wagering on certain teams influencing the market.

Past winners of IIHF World Championship

Most IIHF World Championship gold medals

Best sportsbooks for hockey betting

To gain a competitive advantage during the 2026 IIHF World Championship, it is crucial to use the best sportsbooks that offer comprehensive international hockey markets. Top operators like bet365 and Stake stand out by providing expansive betting menus that go beyond simple win-loss lines to include period-specific totals, player props, and specialized tournament futures.

To maximize your potential returns, you should actively hunt for the best sportsbook promos, such as “Early Payout” offers for three-goal leads or enhanced parlay boosts, which are especially valuable during the high-scoring preliminary rounds. Whether you are looking for live, puck-by-puck betting in Zurich or highest hockey odds for the gold medal final, selecting the right platform ensures you are capturing the highest value on every team in the tournament.

❓ 2026 IIHF World Championship odds FAQs

When is the IIHF World Championship held each year?

The IIHF World Championship is typically held annually in May, overlapping with the NHL playoffs, which can impact player availability for participating national teams.

When is the IIHF World Championship final?

The playoff round for the 2026 Hockey World Championship begins May 28. The final is scheduled for May 31 at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich, Switzerland.

Which country has won the most IIHF World Championships?

The Canadian men’s national ice hockey team has won the most titles in the IIHF World Championship, with 28 gold medals. Close behind is the combined USSR/Russia program with 27.

Canada’s long-term success, deep talent pool, and NHL pipeline often make them a frequent favorite in IIHF World Championship odds, especially in years when more top players are available.

Who’s on Canada’s roster for the 2026 IIHF World Championship?

Canada’s roster for the 2026 IIHF World Championship features NHL veterans Sidney Crosby, John Tavares, Mark Scheifele, Ryan O’Reilly, and Robert Thomas.

Young star Macklin Celebrini has been named captain of Canada. Gavin McKenna, the projected first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, originally planned to play but is instead focusing on the upcoming NHL Draft Combine.