The IIHF World Championship 2026 version is seven games in and the knockout stage is finally here. Starting Thursday, the tourney’s games become extra meaningful with winners advancing and losers going home.
With this in mind, let’s take peek inside the Quarter-Final matchups:
Switzerland vs Sweden May 28 2:20 pm ET
Switzerland
Being the host country generally comes with all kinds of pressure to win in front of their home fans, and the Swiss have done just that. Victorious in all seven outings in regulation, Switzerland is the only team to earn a maximum 21 points.
Forward Ken Jager scored the go-ahead marker with 3:13 remaining Tuesday, breaking a 2-2 tie with Finland to give his team number one seed status.
Switzerland has been the class of Group A, leading the entire event in goals (39), fewest goals against (7), while boasting the top penalty kill. The Swiss PK unit has allowed only one goal in 14 attempts.
At 38-years-old Leonardo Genoni has been the best goaltender during the tournament. A member of EV Zug, Genoni has recorded two shutouts in four starts, posting a miniscule 0.50 GAA, .970 Save Percentage.
Former Canadiens/Avalanche forward Sven Andrighetto leads all players, registering four goals, nine assists.
Switzerland have also been bouyed by the performances of forwards Denis Malgin (three goals, seven assists), and a pair of New Jersey Devils Timo Meier (three goals, eight assists), Nico Hischier (five goals, four assists). Norris Trophy defenseman Roman Josi (four goals, four assists) broke a World Championship tournament record, notching a hat trick in only 4:45 in a 9-0 blanking of Hungary.
Sweden
Defeated 3-2 by upstart Norway Saturday, Sweden needed a win over Slovakia Tuesday to advance to the Quarter-Finals. The Tre Kronor did the job, beating the Slovaks 4-2.
While their 4-3 record was a bit disappointing, Sweden was fun to watch. The Swedes top trio included Detroit Red Wings Lucas Raymond on the right side of highly-ranked 2026 draft prospects Ivar Stenberg and Viggo Bjorck. Raymond (five goals, six assists) finished third in points after the preliminary round.
Garnering four goals, four assists, Stenberg is expected to be selected in one of the top three spots in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. His highlight goal versus Slovakia displays why.
Bjorck too has had a solid performance, notching one goal, five assists. The 18-year-old is expected to be selected in the anywhere from eighth to 12th.
Veteran NHL d-men Mattias Ekholm, Oliver Ekman-Larsson lead the way on Sweden’s blue line.
Norway vs Latvia May 28 2:20 pm ET
Norway
Norway and Latvia have been the darlings of the tournament. Each team plays a similar game, and both are tough to play against. It’s too bad one of them has to leave.
Posting a 4-1-1-1 record which includes a regulation and overtime loss, Norway’s 15 points overall ranks them as the fourth seed. The Norwegians led Canada midway through the third period 5-4, before falling in OT, ruining the Canadians quest for a perfect 21 points.
Goaltender Henrik Haukeland’s 1.20 GAA, .947 Sv Pct, two shutouts has him slightly behind Genoni in stats categories. Haukeland who plays for the German League’s Straubing Tigers has been Norway’s pillar.
Like Sweden, Norway is being led by youngsters. Toronto Maple Leafs 2025 second-rounder, 18-year-old Tinus Luc Koblar leads the team in scoring, notching five goals, three assists, and has been one of the tourney’s top players. While 21-year-old Noah Steen has matched Koblar’s five goals. Playing for Orebro in the Swedish League, Steen ended the season appearing in five games for the American League Syracuse Crunch after being signed by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Latvia
With victories over Germany and the United States, Latvia’s veteran netminder Kristers Gudlevskis leads the squad. Akin to his opposing goaltender, Gudlevskis is a product of the German League known as the DEL. The former Lightning, has posted a 4-2-0 record, .945 Sv Pct.
The Latvians are getting the most out of their forward group.
Former NHL Rudolfs Balcers’ seven goals in seven games leads the tournament. Florida Panther Sandis Vilmanis is tops on the club with 11 points (four goals, seven assists).
A late addition, Eduards Tralmarks has six points (two goals, four assists) in only a pair of games. Signed to a contract by Detroit. Tralmarks joined the team after a solid 2025-26 campaign with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. The 29-year-old tallied 26 goals for the Griffins during the regular season, adding four in eight postseason games.
Canada vs USA May 28 10:20 am ET
Canada
Canada versus USA is always must-see tv. It doesn’t matter the meaning of the game or whether it’s Men’s or Women’s versions. While this game won’t include the full star power of Four Nations or Olympics for both sides, Canada should have a clear advantage.
Reunited from the Olympics, the duo of Macklin Celebrini and Sidney Crosby have been virtually unstoppable. Celebrini contnues to impress at all levels, including boasting five goals, six assists at the Worlds. Crosby, who acquiesced his captaincy to the 19-year-old has gone goalless, but has nine helpers.
Ryan O’Reilly surprisingly leads Canada in goals with five. Dylan Cozens, Gabe Vilardi, Mark Scheifele, John Tavares also having strong tourney’s up front. A pair of Edmonton Oilers Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse provide offense from the defense.
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves has been clutch for the Canadians when required.
USA
Icing a relatively young roster, sprinkled with few veterans, this United States entry has been fairly inconsistent. The team squeaked into the playoff rounds by beating Austria 4-1 Tuesday.
Joseph Woll faltered early in goal, his 4.65 GAA, .761 Sv Pct belies this. Devin Cooley admirably took the reins and has run with it. The Calgary Flames backstop has been a mirror opposite, recording a 1.70 GAA, .930 Sv Pct.
The arrival of Panthers Matthew Tkachuk has a been a late boon for the squad. Tkachuk has four goals, three assists in four games. Penguins Tommy Novak leads USA with one goal, seven assists.
But the bonus for Team USA is the opportunity for youngsters such as James Hagens, Isaac Howard, Ryan Leonard, Max Plante to get much-needed international experience on a world stage at the pro level.
Finland vs Czechia May 28 10:20 am ET
Finland
For Panthers all star Aleksandr Barkov, this is his Olympics. After missing the entire NHL season due to multiple knee injuries, Barkov has been a key piece for Finland due to his ability to play an elite level in all situations.
The Finns finished the preliminary round with only loss and ranked third in the tournament.
Former NHLer Jesse Puljujarvi (four goals, four assists) matched Barkov’s eight points. Canucks forward Aatu Raty, Devils Lenni Hameenaho are having strong tournaments.
Finland is also receiving offense from the blue line. Bruins Henri Jokiharju eight points is tied for the team lead. Jets Ville Heinola and ZSC Lions Mikko Lehtonen each have six.
The goaltending tandem of Justus Annunen and Jonas Korpisalo has been strong.
Czechia
Finishing with 13 points, including four regulation victories and one OT loss, Czechia would’ve seeded higher if not for losses to Norway and Slovakia. But the Czechs special teams didn’t do them any favors. Czechia’s power play was the second-worst, only two goals in 16 attempts. The PK allowed five PP goals on 12 kills.
Dominik Kubalik led with four goals on a club which ranked 12th out of 16 teams.
Finland will enter the Quarter-Final matchup as a clear favorite.
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