IIHF World Championship 2026 Betting Preview: Predictions, Odds, & Best Bets

IIHF 2026 Group A Preview and Predictions

• • United States
  • Switzerland
  • Finland
  • Germany
  • Latvia
  • Austria
  • Hungary
  • Great Britain

The United States is the class of Group A at this year’s event. They are expected to win without too much resistance from the rest of this competition. Switzerland and Finland are expected to be their biggest threats, but they’re unlikely to compete.

Switzerland’s hockey program has made steady progress over the last decade. The Swiss are producing more talent and closing the gap, but they still remain a clear step behind the world’s elite teams. Finland, on the other hand, was typically a perennial contender at the IIHF World Championship.

From 2019 to 2022, the Finns won two gold medals and one silver in three tournaments. Since then, however, they have failed to finish inside the top four.

The current IIHF World Championship odds reflect this downturn, with Finland now listed only as the fifth favorite to win the tournament. However, while the USA should still win Group A, they aren’t bringing their best roster, which leaves the door open for Finland and Switzerland.

IIHF 2026 Group B Preview and Predictions

• • Canada
  • Sweden
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Slovakia
  • Denmark
  • Slovenia
  • Italy

Two of the top three favorites to win IIHF gold are in Group B. Canada and Sweden are both seen as legitimate championship contenders, with the silver medalists from the 2026 Winter Olympics entering as the overall favorite to capture their first world title since 2023.

Sweden owns the third-best odds but hasn’t claimed gold in eight years. The Swedes have underwhelmed with consecutive third place finishes in 2024 and 2025, and much of their outlook depends on which players are actually available.

Even so, expectations remain high, and Sweden will demand a better result this time.

Beyond Canada and Sweden, Czechia has the next-best chance within Group B. However, the Czechs carry only a 10% implied probability of finishing on top. Despite their rich hockey pedigree, I don’t view Czechia as a serious threat in Switzerland.

Team Canada is the clear team to beat and should take the top of the table in Group B.

Canada (+125)

Although a win at the IIHF World Championship won’t erase the sting of losing to the USA at the Olympics, it will come with added pressure in the shadow of the Winter Games. Failing to win this tournament with such a strong roster would only deepen Hockey Canada’s frustrations in 2026.

After John Tavares and Mark Scheifele were the first to commit to Team Canada, there was immediate optimism that the group would be in solid shape. With Tavares and Scheifele as their top names, Canada already looked respectable on paper, but the roster has since been elevated with the addition of several key pieces.

One of the best young players in the world, Macklin Celebrini, has committed to represent Canada at the IIHF World Championship. The 19-year-old San Jose Sharks’ center was one of the focal points for Team Canada at the Olympics, and he has a legitimate chance to wear the “C” at the 2030 Winter Games.

Macklin Celebrini's final tally in his 19-year-old season:

82 games
45 goals
70 assists
115 points

Ridiculous 🤯 pic.twitter.com/1WxNUSSADf

— NHL (@NHL) April 17, 2026

Celebrini is coming off a remarkable season, posting 45 goals and 70 assists for 115 points with the Sharks, and he has a strong case as the best player in this tournament.

He’ll be surrounded by an impressive supporting cast that includes Mathew Barzal, Dylan Cozens, and Dylan Holloway. Offensively, no other team can match Canada’s firepower, and they should have no trouble filling the net in Switzerland.

Canada’s blue line is also well equipped. Along with Celebrini, who was in the Hart Trophy conversation, defenseman Evan Bouchard emerged as a Norris Trophy contender. He’ll anchor a defensive group that also features Darnell Nurse and Zach Whitecloud, giving Canada a balanced mix of puck-moving ability and physical play.

As has often been the case for Canada in international play, the biggest question mark is in goal. Detroit Red Wings netminder and former Edmonton Oiler Cam Talbot is expected to carry the load after posting a 3.19 GAA and .883 save percentage in 2025-26.

Despite the concerns in net, Canada still boasts the most complete roster in the field and stands out as a premier option among the top IIHF World Championship bets.

USA (+400)

USA Hockey will look to cap a memorable season with another gold medal in 2026. The U.S. claimed a historic gold at Milano 2026 with a 2-1 overtime win over rival Team Canada. However, with several key pieces from that roster either in the Stanley Cup Playoffs or skipping the tournament, this is not the same team.

The Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk is the only player from the Olympic roster who will be participating in Switzerland. After a long and grueling year, including the demanding travel schedule and media obligations that came with the Olympic run, every other Olympian is sitting out the IIHF World Championship.

That group includes Connor Hellebuyck, Brady Tkachuk, Jack Hughes, Kyle Connor, Dylan Larkin, and Jake Guentzel, all of whom were available to play after missing the playoffs or exiting in the first round. Instead, they’ve opted for an early offseason to rest and recover.

As a result, Tkachuk faces immense pressure on his shoulders. This isn’t a deep roster, and Team USA will likely struggle on the third and fourth lines. It’s hard to see where consistent goal scoring will come from, especially against a Canadian team that should have a clear edge in depth.

However, the prize for Tkachuk would be to become the first American to complete the Triple Gold. That should keep him motivated!

Matthew could become the FIRST American to complete the Triple Gold 😤

✅ 2025 Stanley Cup champ
✅ 2026 Olympic gold
👀 2026 World Championship pic.twitter.com/L85JOsvDUq

— Wingmen with Matthew and Brady Tkachuk (@Wingmenpod) May 8, 2026

Tkachuk’s supporting cast up front includes Paul Cotter, Tommy Novak, Mathieu Olivier, and Matt Coronato. While there is some underrated offensive talent in that group, it doesn’t stack up favorably against Canada’s lineup. If anything, this tournament is a valuable opportunity for young players like James Hagens to gain experience.

On the back end, the defense will be asked to shoulder a heavy workload in front of Joseph Woll. Woll is coming off a mediocre season with the Maple Leafs and will need to be the best goaltender in Switzerland for Team USA to contend. He finished the year with a 3.34 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage. His play was inconsistent, but he didn’t get much protection.

After capturing Olympic gold, expectations for this group should be tempered. At +400, Team USA doesn’t offer much appeal for my 2026 IIHF World Hockey Championship picks.

Sweden (+450)

With just a week to go before the IIHF World Championship, Team Sweden still hasn’t officially confirmed its roster. What we do know, however, is that they’ll be missing a massive piece in veteran center Mika Zibanejad.

While Zibanejad is no longer the best Swedish player in the NHL, he did suit up for Sweden at last year’s Worlds and rarely passes on an opportunity to represent his country. The 33-year-old New York Rangers star is out, and Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman also won’t be heading to Switzerland.

On the blue line, Sweden takes another big hit with Rasmus Dahlin unavailable as he continues a playoff run with the Buffalo Sabres. Up front, Jesper Bratt is not expected to play, and it would be surprising to see William Nylander join the roster at this stage.

NINE POINTS IN FIVE GAMES FOR LUCAS RAYMOND 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4Z71pMdpzP

— NHL (@NHL) November 19, 2025

There’s still no clarity on Filip Forsberg and Elias Pettersson, but Lucas Raymond, who played for Sweden at last year’s tournament, is confirmed to be heading to Switzerland.

On defense, Maple Leafs’ veteran Oliver Ekman-Larsson has also committed to playing in 2026. Even so, Sweden is clearly missing a significant amount of top-end talent and should be viewed as a sizable underdog.

In goal, Jacob Markström’s status remains uncertain. Filip Gustavsson is tied up in the playoffs with the Minnesota Wild, and the same goes for backup Jesper Wallstedt.

With so many question marks and gaps throughout the lineup, there are simply too many red flags around this Swedish team. As a result, I’m staying away from Sweden in my IIHF World Championship betting picks this year.