2026 World Juniors Hub: Previews, interviews, roster breakdowns and more
Dec 23, 2025, 07:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 22, 2025, 09:44 EST
Credit: (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)
The 2026 World Junior Championship kicks off on Thursday, Dec. 26, and it’s bound to be a good one.
The United States are hoping to win the tournament for the third consecutive year for the first time in the team’s history. Canada, meanwhile, is hoping to get revenge after two straight quarterfinal exits.
Ten teams are set to do battle for gold from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, with games taking place at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul and the 3M Arena in Minneapolis. Here’s what you need to know heading into the tournament, with a little look at every team and much more:
Team Previews
Roster Breakdowns
- Breaking down Canada’s top snubs for the 2026 World Junior Championship
- Breaking down Canada’s 2026 World Junior Championship roster
- Breaking down USA’s 2026 World Junior Championship selection camp roster
Pre-Tournament Game Analysis
- Top Standouts from USA vs. Germany pre-tournament game
- Top Standouts from first Canada vs. Sweden pre-tournament game
- Top Standouts from second Canada vs. Sweden pre-tournament game
Features
- ‘I want to lead this team’: All eyes will be on Gavin McKenna at the World Juniors
- Meet Carter George, Canada’s No. 1 goaltender at the World Juniors – again
- Canadiens’ Michael Hage brings powerhouse game to Canada’s World Junior team
- ‘He’s a special player’: Flyers’ Porter Martone chasing revenge at second World Juniors
- After surprising cut a year ago, Flames’ Zayne Parekh out to make a difference with Canada
- Penguins’ Harrison Brunicke bringing NHL experience to Canada’s World Junior team
- 2026 NHL Draft Rankings: Pre-World Juniors top 50
- 2026 NHL Draft: Top 10 prospects to watch at World Juniors
- Top 15 NHL prospects to watch at the 2026 World Juniors
- Top 10 World Junior Goaltending Performances of all time
- Top 10 players of the 2000s
- A list of every NHL prospect at the 2026 World Juniors
Round-Robin Schedule
| Date | Matchup | Time (Eastern Time) |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | Sweden vs. Slovakia | 1:00 PM |
| Denmark vs. Finland | 3:30 PM | |
| Germany vs. United States | 6:00 PM | |
| Czechia vs. Canada | 8:30 PM | |
| Saturday, Dec. 27 | Slovakia vs. Germany | 2:00 PM |
| Latvia vs. Canada | 4:30 PM | |
| USA vs. Switzerland | 6:00 PM | |
| Denmark vs. Czechia | 8:30 PM | |
| Sunday, Dec. 28 | Sweden vs. Switzerland | 2:00 PM |
| Finland vs. Latvia | 4:30 PM | |
| Monday, Dec. 29 | Germany vs. Sweden | 1:00 PM |
| Finland vs. Czechia | 3:30 PM | |
| Slovakia vs. United States | 6:00 PM | |
| Canada vs. Denmark | 8:30 PM | |
| Tuesday, Dec. 30 | Switzerland vs. Germany | 2:00 PM |
| Latvia vs. Denmark | 4:30 PM | |
| Wednesday, Dec. 31 | Switzerland vs. Slovakia | 1:00 PM |
| Czechia vs. Latvia | 3:30 PM | |
| United States vs. Sweden | 6:00 PM | |
| Canada vs. Finland | 8:30 PM |
Medal Round Schedule
| Date | Round | Time (Eastern Time) |
| Friday, Jan. 2 | Quarterfinal 1 | 2:00 PM |
| Quarterfinal 2 | 4:30 PM | |
| Quarterfinal 3 | 6:00 PM | |
| Quarterfinal 4 | 8:30 PM | |
| Sunday, Jan. 4 | Semifinal 1 | 4:30 PM |
| Semifinal 2 | 8:30 PM | |
| Monday, Jan. 5 | Bronze Medal Game | 4:30 PM |
| Gold Medal Game | 8:30 PM |
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