News & Analysis
The latest coverage from the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
Finland Are World Champions: Konsta Helenius Crushes Swiss Hearts in Overtime
Finland are 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Champions. After sixty scoreless minutes in front of a sold-out Swiss Life Arena, 19-year-old Konsta Helenius scored at 10:42 of overtime to deny host Switzerland a first-ever gold and hand Finland their fifth world title.
Gold Medal Game Preview: Switzerland's Silver Curse vs Finland's Champion DNA
Switzerland have lost four World Championship finals in thirteen years and never won gold. Finland have two golds in the last seven, and Aleksander Barkov is back. The 2026 IIHF gold medal game drops at Swiss Life Arena at 20:20, and Timo Meier rejoins the host lineup.
Noah Steen Sends Norway to First-Ever World Championship Medal With OT Bronze
Norway claimed their first-ever IIHF World Championship medal with a 3-2 overtime win over Canada in Zurich. Noah Steen finished the job at 3:32 of overtime after Canada had pulled off a stunning two-goal third-period comeback in the final 76 seconds of regulation.
Norway Edge Denmark 4-3 in Overtime to Finish Group B Runners-Up
Tinus Luc Koblar scored twice and Norway needed overtime to beat Denmark 4-3 after blowing a 3-1 lead. The win sees Norway finish second in Group B and lines up a quarterfinal against the third-place finisher in Group A.
Norway Stun Czechia 4-1, Book First Quarterfinal Spot
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard scored twice, Henrik Haukeland made 22 saves and Norway shocked Czechia 4-1 at BCF Arena to clinch their first quarterfinal berth at a World Championship since 2008.
Norway Stun Sweden 3-2 With Two Shorthanded Goals
Noah Steen scored twice, including a shorthanded marker, and Eirik Salsten added another shorthanded goal as Norway pulled off a 3-2 upset of Sweden at BCF Arena. Lucas Raymond and Ivar Stenberg replied for Tre Kronor.
Latvia Upset USA 4-2 Behind 45-Save Gudlevskis Wall
Kristers Gudlevskis stopped 45 of 47 shots and Sandis Vilmanis sealed it with two empty-net goals as Latvia outlasted the United States 4-2 at Swiss Life Arena. Haralds Egle, Deniss Smirnovs and Vilmanis each found the net.
Group A: Switzerland and Finland Set Up Top-Seed Showdown
Switzerland and Finland are tied on 15 points and unbeaten through five games. Austria sits third on 9, while Latvia have moved past USA into the last quarterfinal spot.
Group B: Canada Lead, Slovakia and Czechia Within Striking Distance
Canada top Group B on 14 points, with Slovakia (11) and Czechia (10) just behind. Sweden are fourth on 9 points, while Norway hold the last quarterfinal spot on 7.
Sweden Shut Out Slovenia 6-0 to Climb Group B
Lucas Raymond and Jacob de la Rose each scored twice and Arvid Soderblom posted a 16-save shutout as Sweden romped past Slovenia 6-0 at BCF Arena. Oliver Ekman-Larsson racked up three assists.
Group A Update: Switzerland Roar Clear, Finland Hold Second
Switzerland sit alone at the top of Group A on 12 points after thrashing Austria 9-0, with Finland and Austria locked on 9 points and a tight chase pack of Hungary, USA and Latvia on 3.
Group B Update: Czechia Leapfrog Canada, Slovakia Lurking
Czechia top Group B on 10 points after a 3-1 win over Italy, edging Canada (9) and Slovakia (8). Norway are well placed on 6, while Sweden and Slovenia battle for the last quarterfinal spot.
Finland Stay Perfect With 6-2 Win Over USA
Lenni H盲meenaho scored twice and added an assist as Finland chased Joseph Woll early and rolled to a 6-2 win over the United States. Justus Annunen made 30 saves.
Canada Explode for Five in Third to Beat Denmark 5-1
Sidney Crosby set up four goals as Canada broke open a scoreless game with five third-period strikes to beat Denmark 5-1 at BCF Arena. Jet Greaves made 15 saves.
USA Cruise Past Great Britain 5-1 to Bounce Back
Isaac Howard scored twice and Paul Cotter, Mathieu Olivier and Declan Carlile added singles as the United States rebounded with a 5-1 win over Great Britain.
Slovakia Stay Perfect With 4-1 Win Over Italy
Marek Hrivik, Viliam Kmec, Kristian Pospisil and Oliver Okuliar struck as Slovakia improved to 2-0 with a 4-1 victory over Italy at BCF Arena. Adam Gajan made 23 saves.
Switzerland Stay Perfect With 4-2 Win Over Latvia
Damien Riat scored twice and Switzerland recovered from an early Rudolfs Balcers strike to beat Latvia 4-2 at Swiss Life Arena. Sandro Aeschlimann made 21 saves.
Slovenia Stun Czechia 3-2 in Overtime Thriller
Marcel Mahkovec scored 1:14 into overtime to lift Slovenia to a stunning 3-2 win over Czechia at BCF Arena. Lukas Horak made 33 saves to anchor the upset.
Finland Stay Perfect With 4-1 Win Over Hungary
Jesse Puljuj盲rvi struck twice and Aleksander Barkov collected two assists as Finland turned a scoreless first into a 4-1 win over Hungary at Swiss Life Arena.
Canada Blank Italy 6-0 to Stay Perfect in Group B
Macklin Celebrini scored twice and Cam Talbot posted a 19-save shutout as Canada beat Italy 6-0 at BCF Arena. Ryan O'Reilly added 1+2 in a complete team performance.
Austria Outgun Great Britain 5-2 in Wild Opening Period
Peter Schneider scored twice and Austria put up three quick first-period goals before holding off Great Britain in a 5-2 win at Swiss Life Arena.
Slovakia Edge Norway 2-1 in Group B Opener
Marek Hrivik's third-period goal proved decisive as Slovakia opened their tournament with a 2-1 win over Norway at BCF Arena. Samuel Hlavaj stopped 22 of 23 shots.
Switzerland Open Tournament With 3-1 Win Over USA
Pius Suter and Sven Andrighetto each had a goal and an assist as host Switzerland beat the United States 3-1 in front of 10,000 fans at Swiss Life Arena.
Czechia Cruise Past Denmark 4-1 in Group B Opener
Dominik Kubalik and Daniel Vozenilek struck early, Roman Cervenka added a third-period dagger, and Czechia opened the tournament with a 4-1 win over Denmark at BCF Arena.
Canada Down Sweden 5-3 in Group B Opener
John Tavares opened the scoring and Connor Brown and Dylan Cozens added third-period goals as Canada beat Sweden 5-3 at BCF Arena in Fribourg. Jet Greaves earned the win.
Finland Edge Germany 3-1 in Tournament Opener
Jesse Puljuj盲rvi's third-period power-play goal proved decisive as Finland opened the 2026 IIHF World Championship with a 3-1 win over Germany at Swiss Life Arena.
Ekman-Larsson Named Sweden Captain for 2026 World Championship
Oliver Ekman-Larsson will wear the C for Tre Kronor in Switzerland, with Mattias Ekholm and Lucas Raymond as alternates.
2026 IIHF World Championship: Complete Tournament Preview
Everything you need to know ahead of the tournament in Switzerland, favorites, dark horses, and the road to gold in Z眉rich.
Swiss Life Arena Set for World Championship Debut
Z眉rich's newest arena hosts its first major international tournament with all knockout games scheduled there.
Groups, Storylines, and What to Watch on Opening Day
Four games on May 15 set the tone, including a heavyweight USA vs Switzerland clash in Z眉rich.
How the Tournament Works: Format and the Path to Gold
A quick guide to the round-robin, the quarterfinal re-seeding, and how points are awarded.