The 2026 IIHF World Championship gets underway in May. Sixteen national teams, including the favorites Canada, meet in Switzerland for the annual tournament.
Following the Winter Olympics and Four Nations Face-Off, international hockey is as competitive and contentious as ever. The best NHL players who aren’t still competing in the NHL playoffs are looking to help their country win gold – and earn some goodwill for future Olympic teams.
Last year, USA won its first IIHF World Championship gold medal since 1960...
Keep track of all the IIHF World Championship action from Switzerland by downloading our IIHF World Championship printable bracket. Make your picks, fill out the bracket, and showcase your knowledge. You can even play your picks at sportsbooks using our best sportsbook promos.
Track every goal from the opening puck drop to the podium by recording the official scores during the group stage, then fill in your IIHF World Cup bracket predictions to see if you can pick the 2026 World Champion.
The 2026 IIHF World Championship features 16 teams divided into two groups of eight teams each. During the preliminary round, every team plays the other teams in its group to determine the standings for the knockout stage.
The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, while the bottom teams will be eliminated from medal contention. Teams earn three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime or shootout win, one point for an overtime or shootout loss, and zero points for a regulation loss.
Once the preliminary round ends, the top four teams from each group move on to the quarterfinals. The tournament uses a crossover format, meaning the first-place team in one group faces the fourth-place team from the opposite group, while the second-place team faces the third-place team from the opposite group.
If teams are tied in the standings, tiebreakers include head-to-head results, goal difference, goals scored, and IIHF World Ranking. Correctly predicting the final standings can make a major difference when filling out your championship bracket.
After the quarterfinal matchups are set, select the four teams you believe will advance to the semifinals. Quarterfinal games are single-elimination matchups, so one bad period can end a team’s championship hopes.
Many fans look at goaltending depth, special teams, NHL player availability, and recent international results when deciding which teams are most likely to advance. Upsets are common in international hockey, which makes this round one of the most exciting parts of the tournament.
The semifinal matchups are determined by the winners of the quarterfinal games based on the official tournament bracket. Unlike some tournaments, the IIHF World Championship may reseed teams depending on overall preliminary-round performance and tournament rules.
This means the highest remaining seed could face the lowest remaining seed in the semifinals. Keeping track of standings and tiebreakers throughout the tournament can help you better predict how the final four will shape up.
Once the semifinal games are set, choose the two teams you believe will advance to the gold medal game. These matchups usually feature the top hockey nations in the world and often come down to elite goaltending, discipline, and scoring depth.
The losing semifinal teams will still compete in the bronze medal game, giving them one final opportunity to leave the tournament with a medal. Every game becomes increasingly intense as teams move closer to the championship.
The winners of the semifinals will face off in the gold medal game to determine the 2026 IIHF World Champion. The winning team earns the gold medal and international bragging rights, while the losing team receives the silver medal.
The bronze medal game will determine third place, with the winner taking home bronze and the losing team finishing just outside the podium positions. Correctly predicting the medal round is the final step to completing your IIHF World Championship bracket.
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Use our printable IIHF World Cup 2026 schedule to track all 16 national teams competing across Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland, as the tournament runs from May 15 to May 31, 2026.
| Tournament Phase | Dates | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Round | May 15 – 26, 2026 | 16 teams compete in two groups |
| Quarterfinals | May 28, 2026 | Top 4 teams from each group advance |
| Semifinals | May 30, 2026 | Winners of the quarterfinals face off |
| Medal Games | May 31, 2026 | Bronze and Gold medal matches |
Organize your free printable IIHF 2026 World Cup schedule by tracking these two groups during the preliminary round.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
 USA |
 Canada |
 Switzerland |
 Sweden |
 Finland |
 Czechia |
 Germany |
 Denmark |
 Latvia |
 Slovakia |
 Austria |
 Norway |
 Hungary |
 Slovenia |
 Great Britain |
 Italy |
Canada is the betting favorite in 2026 IIHF World Championship odds and the most decorated country in the history of the tournament, with 28 gold medals. Judging by the strength of their roster (Macklin Celebrini, John Tavares, Mark Scheifele), they should have a fairly easy time qualifying for the quarterfinals, but from there anything can happen. Last year, Denmark beat Canada 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
I would consider Canada, Sweden, and Czechia locks to qualify for the playoff round in Group B, with Slovakia and Denmark competing for the fourth spot. Group A is a lot more wide open. While the US won Olympic gold a few months prior, their IIHF World Championship roster isn’t exactly loaded with NHL stars. They’ll compete with Switzerland, Finland, Germany, and Latvia for playoff round places.
Because of the tournament format, there’s an endless possibility of matchups in the playoff round, but I like Canada, Sweden, Finland, and Czechia in the final four – if the placing allows for it. While there’s not a ton of value in betting the favorites, it’s going to be tough for any team to stop Canada’s balanced attack.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | USA | Switzerland | Sweden |
| 2024 | Czechia | Switzerland | Sweden |
| 2023 | Canada | Germany | Latvia |
| 2022 | Finland | Canada | Czechia |
| 2021 | Canada | Finland | United States |
| 2020 | Tournament cancelled due to COVID-19 | — | — |
| 2019 | Finland | Canada | Russia |
| 2018 | Sweden | Switzerland | United States |
| 2017 | Sweden | Canada | Russia |
| 2016 | Canada | Finland | Russia |
| 2015 | Canada | Russia | United States |
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To get the most out of your tournament bankroll, it is clever to capitalize on the best sportsbook promos, such as puck line insurance or parlay multipliers, which can provide a significant cushion during the preliminary rounds. Whether you are placing live wagers as the action unfolds in Fribourg or searching for the highest hockey odds on the gold medal winner, choosing the right sportsbook ensures you are getting the best possible price on every matchup in Switzerland.
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The 2026 IIHF World Championship will be held in Switzerland from May 15-31. Games are scheduled to take place in the cities of Zurich and Fribourg, with the Swiss Life Arena and BCF Arena serving as the primary venues for the tournament.
The preliminary round concludes May 26.
The 16 teams are split into two groups of eight for the preliminary round. The top four teams from each group then advance to the crossover quarterfinals, which you can track using your printable IIHF World Cup 2026 schedule.
Canada has won the most IIHF World Championship titles in tournament history. Canada has built one of the strongest international hockey traditions in the world and has consistently competed for medals across multiple generations of players.
Canada’s success includes championships earned during the early years of international hockey as well as modern-era tournaments featuring NHL stars and elite professional talent. They have 28 gold medals.
The United States enters the tournament as the defending champions after winning their first gold medal since 1960 during the 2025 IIHF World Championship.
The 2026 tournament will feature 16 national teams. The teams are divided into two groups during the preliminary round, and the top four teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. Countries such as Canada, Sweden, Finland, the United States, Czechia, and host nation Switzerland are expected to be among the major contenders for the championship.
Canada is the favorite in the 2026 IIHF World Championship odds, but they haven't medaled since 2023. Can they return to glory in Switzerland?
Canada hasn't medaled at the IIHF World Championship since 2023. Can they get back to glory and get off to a good start? They're in tough in our opening Canada vs Sweden same game parlay.
Switzerland and the US meet in a rematch of the gold medal game at the 2025 IIHF World Championship. Find out why we expect a big game from Switzerland in our USA vs Switzerland same game parlay.
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