2026 Ice Hockey World Championship - full game schedule, groups, game times and Latvia calendar

The hockey spring the whole world is waiting for

From May 15 to May 31, 2026, Switzerland will host one of the biggest sporting events of the year - the Ice Hockey World Championship. For two weeks, the strongest national teams in the world will compete for gold medals while millions of fans follow every game. The tournament will take place in Zurich and Fribourg, where a fantastic atmosphere, packed arenas and unforgettable emotions are expected. Latvian fans are already preparing for another major hockey spring. Special attention will be paid to Latvia’s games against Finland, the United States and Switzerland. Sixteen teams will take part in the tournament, divided into two groups. The top four teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals. Hockey fans can expect dozens of exciting games, dramatic finishes and world-class hockey. Canada, Sweden, the United States and Finland are considered the main favourites. At the same time, Latvia hopes to repeat the successes of recent years. Switzerland’s modern arenas will provide an excellent viewing experience both for fans in the stands and for television viewers. NHL stars will also be in the spotlight during the championship. Several teams are expected to bring very strong rosters to the tournament. Latvian supporters are traditionally among the loudest at the whole event. Hockey spring always creates a special atmosphere across Latvia. Social media is already full of active discussions about the national team roster and predictions. Every point in the group stage will be very important. The battle to stay in the elite division also promises to be tense. The tournament will conclude with the grand final on May 31. For hockey fans, these will be two weeks rich in emotion.

Group A

Latvia men's national ice hockey team
United States men's national ice hockey team
Finland men's national ice hockey team
Germany men's national ice hockey team
Switzerland men's national ice hockey team
Austria men's national ice hockey team
Hungary men's national ice hockey team
Great Britain men's national ice hockey team

Group B

Canada men's national ice hockey team
Sweden men's national ice hockey team
Czech Republic men's national ice hockey team
Slovakia men's national ice hockey team
Denmark men's national ice hockey team
Norway men's national ice hockey team
Slovenia men's national ice hockey team
Italy men's national ice hockey team

May 15

12:20 United States – Switzerland
12:20 Finland – Germany
16:20 Latvia – Hungary
16:20 Austria – Great Britain
20:20 Canada – Sweden
20:20 Czech Republic – Denmark
20:20 Slovakia – Norway
20:20 Slovenia – Italy

May 16

12:20 Latvia – Austria
12:20 United States – Germany
16:20 Switzerland – Hungary
16:20 Finland – Great Britain
20:20 Sweden – Slovakia
20:20 Canada – Slovenia
20:20 Czech Republic – Norway
20:20 Denmark – Italy

May 17

12:20 Latvia – Switzerland
12:20 Finland – United States
16:20 Germany – Austria
16:20 Hungary – Great Britain
20:20 Canada – Czech Republic
20:20 Sweden – Denmark
20:20 Slovakia – Slovenia
20:20 Norway – Italy

May 18

12:20 Latvia – Finland
12:20 United States – Austria
16:20 Switzerland – Germany
16:20 Hungary – Great Britain
20:20 Canada – Denmark
20:20 Sweden – Czech Republic
20:20 Slovakia – Italy
20:20 Norway – Slovenia

May 19

12:20 Latvia – United States
12:20 Finland – Switzerland
16:20 Germany – Hungary
16:20 Austria – Great Britain
20:20 Canada – Slovakia
20:20 Sweden – Norway
20:20 Czech Republic – Slovenia
20:20 Denmark – Italy

May 20

12:20 Latvia – Germany
12:20 United States – Hungary
16:20 Finland – Austria
16:20 Switzerland – Great Britain
20:20 Canada – Norway
20:20 Sweden – Slovenia
20:20 Czech Republic – Italy
20:20 Slovakia – Denmark

May 21

12:20 Latvia – Great Britain
12:20 United States – Finland
16:20 Switzerland – Austria
16:20 Germany – Hungary
20:20 Canada – Italy
20:20 Sweden – Slovakia
20:20 Czech Republic – Norway
20:20 Denmark – Slovenia

May 22

12:20 Latvia – Switzerland
12:20 Finland – Hungary
16:20 United States – Great Britain
16:20 Germany – Austria
20:20 Canada – Czech Republic
20:20 Sweden – Denmark
20:20 Slovakia – Italy
20:20 Norway – Slovenia

May 23

12:20 Latvia – Austria
12:20 United States – Germany
16:20 Finland – Switzerland
16:20 Hungary – Great Britain
20:20 Canada – Slovenia
20:20 Sweden – Slovakia
20:20 Czech Republic – Denmark
20:20 Norway – Italy

May 24

12:20 Latvia – Finland
12:20 United States – Austria
16:20 Switzerland – Germany
16:20 Hungary – Great Britain
20:20 Canada – Norway
20:20 Sweden – Czech Republic
20:20 Slovakia – Italy
20:20 Denmark – Slovenia

May 25

12:20 Latvia – United States
12:20 Finland – Germany
16:20 Switzerland – Austria
16:20 Hungary – Great Britain
20:20 Canada – Slovakia
20:20 Sweden – Denmark
20:20 Czech Republic – Slovenia
20:20 Norway – Italy

May 26

12:20 Latvia – Hungary
12:20 United States – Switzerland
16:20 Finland – Austria
16:20 Germany – Great Britain
20:20 Canada – Sweden
20:20 Czech Republic – Slovakia
20:20 Denmark – Norway
20:20 Slovenia – Italy

Quarter-finals - May 28

12:20 A1 – B4
16:20 A2 – B3
20:20 B1 – A4
20:20 B2 – A3

Semi-finals - May 30

15:20 Semi-final 1
19:20 Semi-final 2

Medal games - May 31

15:20 Bronze medal game
20:20 Final

Latvia’s most important games

Games against Austria, Hungary and Great Britain will be especially important for Latvia, because these matches may decide a place in the quarter-finals. At the same time, games against Finland, the United States and Switzerland will be an excellent chance to test Latvia’s strength against the giants of world hockey. Latvian fans are hoping for fast, aggressive and emotional hockey, which in recent years has become the team’s trademark.