The 2025-2026 World Juniors are here. While hockey fans may be checking out the new gear they got for Christmas, it’s time to focus on the best and brightest of hockey’s future.
The annual IIHF tournament gets underway Friday, December 26, and runs through the bronze and gold medal games on Monday, January 5. Ten teams from across North America and Europe will come together in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, for the event.
The United States is the back-to-back champion of the World Juniors. Last year, the Americans defeated Finland 4-3 in overtime to claim the title. The U.S. could become the first nation to win three consecutive World Juniors since Canada won five straight from 2005 to 2009. The Americans will begin their quest for a three-peat on the first day of the tournament against Germany.
The Sporting News is tracking scores and results for the IIHF World Junior hockey games on December 26.
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World Juniors score today
Friday, Dec. 26
MatchupTime (ET)Sweden vs. Slovakia12 p.m.Denmark vs. Finland2:30 p.m.Germany vs. United States5 p.m.Czechia vs. Canada7:30 p.m.How to watch World Juniors games on TV, live streamTV channel (Canada): TSNLive stream (Canada): TSN.ca, TSN appTV channel (U.S.): NHL NetworkLive stream (U.S.): Fubo
TSN and the NHL Network will be the go-to channels for all of the action for the 2026 World Juniors.
Canadian viewers can watch the competition on TSN or stream the games through TSN.ca or on the TSN app.
The American audience can view the games live on TV on the NHL Network or stream them through Fubo, which offers a free trial.
World Juniors bracket 2026
Gold Medal Game
Bronze Medal Game
Semifinals
Teams are reseeded for the semifinals matchups based on the group stage standings. All four will be guaranteed to play for a medal.
Quarterfinals
Teams will be seeded for the quarterfinals based on the group stage standings.
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The remaining four teams after the quarterfinals will be reseeded for the semifinals based on preliminary round standings.
World Juniors standings 2026
Group A
TeamGamesWinsOT WinsOT LossesLossesPointsUnited States Sweden Slovakia Switzerland Germany
Group B
TeamGamesWinsOT WinsOT LossesLossesPointsFinland Czechia Canada Latvia Denmark
Teams will play four preliminary games in a round-robin format within their group, followed by a three-round playoff.
In the group stage, teams earn three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win, one point for an overtime loss, and no points for a regulation loss.
The top four teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, with matchups determined by seeding. Teams will cross over between groups: 1A vs. 4B, 1B vs. 4A, 2A vs. 3B, and 2B vs. 3A. Teams that advance to the semifinals will be reseeded.
The winners of the semifinals will meet in the gold medal game, while the losers will play for bronze.
2026 World Juniors schedule, results
Friday, Dec. 26
MatchupTime (ET)Sweden vs. Slovakia12 p.m.Denmark vs. Finland2:30 p.m.Germany vs. United States5 p.m.Czechia vs. Canada7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 27
MatchupTime (ET)Slovakia vs. Germany1 p.m.Latvia vs. Canada3:30 p.m.United States vs. Switzerland5 p.m.Denmark vs. Czechia7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 28
MatchupTime (ET)Sweden vs. Switzerland1 p.m.Finland vs. Latvia3:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 29
MatchupTime (ET)Germany vs. Sweden12 p.m.Finland vs. Czechia2:30 p.m.Slovakia vs. United States5 p.m.Canada vs. Denmark7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 30
MatchupTime (ET)Switzerland vs. Germany1 p.m.Latvia vs. Denmark3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 31
MatchupTime (ET)Switzerland vs. Slovakia12 p.m.Czechia vs. Latvia2:30 p.m.United States vs. Sweden5 p.m.Canada vs. Finland7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 2
MatchupTime (ET)Quarterfinal 11 p.m.Quarterfinal 23:30 p.m.Quarterfinal 35 p.m.Quarterfinal 47:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 4
MatchupTime (ET)Semifinal 13:30 p.m.Semifinal 27:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 5
MatchupTime (ET)Bronze Medal Game3:30 p.m.Gold Medal Game7:30 p.m.