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It's time for the win-or-go-home phase of the IIHF World Championship, with eight teams still standing for the knockout round.
The quarterfinals feature a marquee matchup with Canada set to face the USA, a game in which the Canadians will be solid favorites even if the U.S. is the defending champion at the tournament. Team USA had the lowest preliminary-round point total of any quarterfinalist, while Canada went unbeaten in group play behind nine assists from Sidney Crosby and five goals and six assists from Macklin Celebrini.
Canada might be considered the team to beat in the bracket given its star power, but Switzerland was the dominant squad in group play, winning all seven games in regulation and outscoring opponents 39-7. The Swiss have lost in the final the last two years and are 0-for-5 all-time in gold-medal games at Worlds.
Will this finally be their year, or will Canada return to the top of the podium after a shocking quarterfinal exit in 2025?
Here's when and there to watch all the knockout-round action at this year's Worlds.
Where to watch IIHF World Championship playoffs 2026
- TV channel: NHL Network
- Live stream: fubo
All but two IIHF World Championship playoff games will air live in the U.S. on NHL Network, and fans can stream them live on fubo. See the full game schedule below.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
IIHF World Championship playoffs schedule, scores 2026
Thursday, May 28 - Quarterfinals
| Canada vs. USA | 10:20 a.m. | NHL Network, fubo |
| Finland vs. Czechia | 10:20 a.m. | |
| Switzerland vs. Sweden | 2:20 p.m. | NHL Network, fubo |
| Norway vs. Latvia | 2:20 p.m. |
Saturday, May 30 - Semifinals
| Semifinal 1 | 9:20 a.m. | NHL Network, fubo |
| Semifinal 2 | 2 p.m. | NHL Network, fubo |
Sunday, May 31 - Medal round
| Bronze medal game | 9:30 a.m. | NHL Network, fubo |
| Gold medal game | 2:20 p.m. | NHL Network, fubo |
IIHF World Championship playoff bracket 2026
The top four teams from Group A and Group B have advanced to the quarterfinals, which will be played in a crossover format. The first-place team in Group A plays the fourth-place team in Group B, and so on.
From there, the bracket follows a single-elimination format.
Quarterfinals
- Switzerland (A1) vs. Sweden (B4)
- Finland (A2) vs. Czechia (B3)
- Canada (B1) vs. USA (A4)
- Norway (B2) vs. Latvia (A3)
Semifinals
Teams are reseeded for semifinals
- TBD vs. TBD
- TBD vs. TBD
Medal Round
- Semifinal losers
- Semifinal winners
IIHF World Championship standings 2026
Final group play standings through games of May 26:
Group A standings
| Switzerland* | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Finland* | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 |
| Latvia* | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| USA* | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11 |
| Germany | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| Austria | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 |
| Hungary | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| Great Britain | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Group B standings
| Canada* | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Norway* | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| Czechia* | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 |
| Sweden* | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| Slovakia | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11 |
| Denmark | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Slovenia | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Italy | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
* Clinched spot in quarterfinals
IIHF World Championship winners, medalists
Here are the medal-winning teams from the last 10 World Championships. There was no tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19.
| 2025 | USA | Switzerland | Sweden |
| 2024 | Czechia | Switzerland | Sweden |
| 2023 | Canada | Germany | Latvia |
| 2022 | Finland | Canada | Czechia |
| 2021 | Canada | Finland | USA |
| 2019 | Finland | Canada | Russia |
| 2018 | Sweden | Switzerland | USA |
| 2017 | Sweden | Canada | Russia |
| 2016 | Canada | Finland | Russia |
| 2015 | Canada | Russia | USA |
English (US)