The top division of the Men's Ice Hockey World Championship is a big date in the sporting calendar and we look forward to this special event with our IIHF World Championship 2026 predictions. With the competition split into four divisions, we will focus on the Championship, which is the top division and home to the best teams. Canada enter the tournament as 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship favorites priced at 2.5 (6/4) with bet365.
1. Ice Hockey World Championship 2026 Preview
We begin this 2026 IIHF World Championship preview with a closer look at the schedule before making our Ice Hockey World Championship 2026 betting tips. The tournament will be played between the 15th and 31st of May 2026 in Switzerland. Games will take place in Zürich and Fribourg and the 16 teams are split into two groups of 8 as follows, complete with the bet365 IHF World Championship 2026 betting odds for tournament winner:
Group A
- United States – 6 (5/1)
- Switzerland – 6 (5/1)
- Finland – 6 (5/1)
- Germany – 34 (33/1)
- Latvia – 151 (150/1)
- Austria – 201 (200/1)
- Hungary – 1001 (1000/1)
- Great Britain – 1001 (1000/1)
Group B
- Canada – 2.5 (6/4)
- Sweden – 8 (7/1)
- Czechia – 11 (10/1)
- Denmark – 151 (150/1)
- Slovakia – 34 (33/1)
- Norway – 301 (300/1)
- Slovenia – 1001 (1000/1)
- Italy – 1001 (1000/1)
The teams will play each other once and the top four teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals. The bottom team in each group will be relegated to Division I A for the 2027 season. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final are all one-off knockout games. Now you know the format and the Ice Hockey World Championship 2026 odds, we can make our IIHF World Championship 2026 predictions. If you want to bet on other hockey tournaments and events, take a look at our guide including ice hockey betting tips, NHL predictions, odds and live stream.
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2. Men's Ice Hockey World Championships 2026 Betting Predictions
We begin our 2026 IIHF World Championship predictions with the tournament winner. This will be the most popular Ice Hockey World Championship 2026 prediction and you can follow the team you back throughout the tournament. Canada are the favorites and they will be aiming to put the disappointing loss in the 2026 Olympic Games final behind them. The additions of John Tavares and Mark Scheifele could give Canada the edge they need to win gold for a record 29th time but United States will have other ideas. United States beat Canada in the 2026 Olympic Games final, meaning they are full of confidence coming into this event. If the likes of Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin, Zach Werenski, Jack Hughes, and Matthew Tkachuk accept the invitation to play in this tournament, it is difficult to overlook the United States as potential winners. The defending champions roster could be close to the gold winning team in Italy and it is Canada that leads our IIHF 2026 World Men's Championship predictions for tournament winner at 2.50 (6/4) with bet365.
Prediction #1 Canada to win IIHF World Championship
Last update: 1777375751
As part of our IIHF 2026 World Men's Championship betting tips, we like to predict an outsider for those who want to take a risk on bigger odds. We think Slovakia make an interesting bet at 34.00 (33/1) to win the tournament. This is definitely a long shot but of the nations with longer odds, Slovakia could be the team to taste success because they have been competitive at recent events (finishing fourth at the 2026 Olympics) and have recorded some good results (4-1 win over Finland). In the unlikely event Juraj Slafkovský can join up with the Slovakia team and some of the top players do not represent United States and Canada, the Slovakians could cause a shock.
Prediction #2 Slovakia to win IIHF World Championship
Last update: 1777376040
The last of our 2026 IIHF World Championship predictions focuses on the opening match of the tournament between Canada and Sweden in Group B. Canada are the favorites but Sweden have a habit of getting to the latter stages of this competition and have finished third in each of the last two World Championships. Sweden were disappointed to finish seventh at the 2026 Olympics and will be determined to start this competition in style. You can get 2.55 (31/20) with bet365 for Sweden to beat Canada.
Prediction #3 Sweden to win the opening match with Canada
Last update: 1777379290
If you live in Canada but are not a huge fan of ice hockey, don’t worry. We have a couple of guides and articles, for example the one discussing the best MLB sportsbooks in Canada, which Canadian bettors can find useful, even if they are not interested in ice hockey betting.
3. IIHF World Championship Betting Odds and Bookmakers' Offers
You will find a full selection of IIHF World Championship 2026 betting lines at bet365, 1XBET, Betano, BetWinner, and Roobet. You can compare the IIHF World Championship betting odds table from each of the five sportsbooks before having a wager on the tournament.
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You will find all the popular betting markets including moneyline, puck line, over/under, parlays, prop bets, and live betting. You may also have access to an Ice Hockey World Championship live stream and free bet offers you can use when betting on the competition. We have listed odds mostly from bet365 but you can make IIHF World Championship 2026 predictions and bet at any of our recommended online sportsbooks. Additionally, you can find reviews of these brands, such as the Roobet promo code review, where we present each bookmaker’s offer and provide registration code (if it’s available).
4. Where to watch IIHF World Championship 2026
In addition to the potential of live streaming at our recommended sportsbooks, you can watch every game live at IIHF TV but some countries will host their own coverage. For example, in the United States live coverage will be on the NHL Network and fans in Canada can watch on TSN. Switching to Europe and in Germany matches will be live on ProSieben, SVT will show games in Sweden, and Eurosport will offer extended coverage across other European nations.
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5. IIHF World Championship 2026 Predictions FAQ
5.1 📆 When is the 2026 IIHF World Championship?
The tournament will take place between 15th and 31st of May 2026 in Switzerland.
5.2 📺 Where to watch Ice Hockey World Championship 2026?
Live coverage will be available on IIHF TV for some nations but for those not covered, local channels will show live matches.
5.3 📲 Where to bet on 2026 IIHF World Championship?
You can bet at our recommended sportsbooks, including bet365, Roobet, BetWinner, 1XBET, and Betano.
5.4 🏒 Who is the favorite to win the IIHF World Championship 2026?
Canada are the favorites to win at 2.5 (6/4) with bet365.
5.5 🏆 Who will win 2026 IIHF World Championship?
Our IIHF World Championship 2026 predictions are for Canada to win and Slovakia as an outside bet.
IIHF World Championship 2026 Predictions
The top division of the Men's Ice Hockey World Championship is a big date in the sporting calendar and we look forward to this special event with our IIHF World Championship 2026 predictions. With the competition split into four divisions, we will focus on the Championship, which is the top division and home to the best teams. Canada enter the tournament as 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship favorites priced at 2.5 (6/4) with bet365.
Contents
1. Ice Hockey World Championship 2026 Preview
We begin this 2026 IIHF World Championship preview with a closer look at the schedule before making our Ice Hockey World Championship 2026 betting tips. The tournament will be played between the 15th and 31st of May 2026 in Switzerland. Games will take place in Zürich and Fribourg and the 16 teams are split into two groups of 8 as follows, complete with the bet365 IHF World Championship 2026 betting odds for tournament winner:
Group A
Group B
The teams will play each other once and the top four teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals. The bottom team in each group will be relegated to Division I A for the 2027 season. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final are all one-off knockout games. Now you know the format and the Ice Hockey World Championship 2026 odds, we can make our IIHF World Championship 2026 predictions. If you want to bet on other hockey tournaments and events, take a look at our guide including ice hockey betting tips, NHL predictions, odds and live stream.
2. Men's Ice Hockey World Championships 2026 Betting Predictions
We begin our 2026 IIHF World Championship predictions with the tournament winner. This will be the most popular Ice Hockey World Championship 2026 prediction and you can follow the team you back throughout the tournament. Canada are the favorites and they will be aiming to put the disappointing loss in the 2026 Olympic Games final behind them. The additions of John Tavares and Mark Scheifele could give Canada the edge they need to win gold for a record 29th time but United States will have other ideas. United States beat Canada in the 2026 Olympic Games final, meaning they are full of confidence coming into this event. If the likes of Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin, Zach Werenski, Jack Hughes, and Matthew Tkachuk accept the invitation to play in this tournament, it is difficult to overlook the United States as potential winners. The defending champions roster could be close to the gold winning team in Italy and it is Canada that leads our IIHF 2026 World Men's Championship predictions for tournament winner at 2.50 (6/4) with bet365.
As part of our IIHF 2026 World Men's Championship betting tips, we like to predict an outsider for those who want to take a risk on bigger odds. We think Slovakia make an interesting bet at 34.00 (33/1) to win the tournament. This is definitely a long shot but of the nations with longer odds, Slovakia could be the team to taste success because they have been competitive at recent events (finishing fourth at the 2026 Olympics) and have recorded some good results (4-1 win over Finland). In the unlikely event Juraj Slafkovský can join up with the Slovakia team and some of the top players do not represent United States and Canada, the Slovakians could cause a shock.
The last of our 2026 IIHF World Championship predictions focuses on the opening match of the tournament between Canada and Sweden in Group B. Canada are the favorites but Sweden have a habit of getting to the latter stages of this competition and have finished third in each of the last two World Championships. Sweden were disappointed to finish seventh at the 2026 Olympics and will be determined to start this competition in style. You can get 2.55 (31/20) with bet365 for Sweden to beat Canada.
If you live in Canada but are not a huge fan of ice hockey, don’t worry. We have a couple of guides and articles, for example the one discussing the best MLB sportsbooks in Canada, which Canadian bettors can find useful, even if they are not interested in ice hockey betting.
3. IIHF World Championship Betting Odds and Bookmakers' Offers
You will find a full selection of IIHF World Championship 2026 betting lines at bet365, 1XBET, Betano, BetWinner, and Roobet. You can compare the IIHF World Championship betting odds table from each of the five sportsbooks before having a wager on the tournament.
Where to bet on IIHF World Championship Winner
You will find all the popular betting markets including moneyline, puck line, over/under, parlays, prop bets, and live betting. You may also have access to an Ice Hockey World Championship live stream and free bet offers you can use when betting on the competition. We have listed odds mostly from bet365 but you can make IIHF World Championship 2026 predictions and bet at any of our recommended online sportsbooks. Additionally, you can find reviews of these brands, such as the Roobet promo code review, where we present each bookmaker’s offer and provide registration code (if it’s available).
4. Where to watch IIHF World Championship 2026
In addition to the potential of live streaming at our recommended sportsbooks, you can watch every game live at IIHF TV but some countries will host their own coverage. For example, in the United States live coverage will be on the NHL Network and fans in Canada can watch on TSN. Switching to Europe and in Germany matches will be live on ProSieben, SVT will show games in Sweden, and Eurosport will offer extended coverage across other European nations.
5. IIHF World Championship 2026 Predictions FAQ
5.1 📆 When is the 2026 IIHF World Championship?
The tournament will take place between 15th and 31st of May 2026 in Switzerland.
5.2 📺 Where to watch Ice Hockey World Championship 2026?
Live coverage will be available on IIHF TV for some nations but for those not covered, local channels will show live matches.
5.3 📲 Where to bet on 2026 IIHF World Championship?
You can bet at our recommended sportsbooks, including bet365, Roobet, BetWinner, 1XBET, and Betano.
5.4 🏒 Who is the favorite to win the IIHF World Championship 2026?
Canada are the favorites to win at 2.5 (6/4) with bet365.
5.5 🏆 Who will win 2026 IIHF World Championship?
Our IIHF World Championship 2026 predictions are for Canada to win and Slovakia as an outside bet.