The 2026 gold medal game between Sweden and Czechia is a rematch of the 2025 bronze medal game (pictured), which the Czechs won 3-2 in a shootout.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / MATT ZAMBONIN
The match-ups and times for the gold medal game and bronze medal game at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship have been set. Both games take place on Monday, 5 January at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota.
BMG – Canada-Finland, 15:30
GMG – Sweden-Czechia. 19:30
This is the first all-European final since 2016, when the Finns defeated the Russians 4-3 in overtime for home-ice gold in Helsinki.
Sweden has won two World Junior gold medals, coming in 1981 (West Germany) and 2012 (Calgary, Canada). In the last triumph, Mika Zibanejad notched the 1-0 overtime winner against the Russians. The Swedes have more silver medals than any other nation (12). Their latest silver medal was in 2024 as they lost the final 6-2 to the Americans.
Czechia is playing for its third gold medal ever. It won both its previous final appearances: 1-0 over the Russians in 2000 (Skelleftea, Sweden) and 2-1 over Finland in 2001 (Moscow, Russia). The Czechs have medaled three years in a row (2023 silver, 2024 and 2025 bronze) and will extend that streak to four years.
Canada, the all-time leader in World Junior titles (20), last medalled in 2023, winning gold on home ice in Halifax. The Canadians have lost in the playoffs to the Czechs three years in a row, including 6-4 in this year's semi-finals, and will be seeking some consolation versus Finland.
Finland is looking for its eighth bronze medal all-time, the last one coming in 2021. The Finns earned silver last year under head coach Lauri Mikkola with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Americans.
BMG – Canada-Finland, 15:30
GMG – Sweden-Czechia. 19:30
This is the first all-European final since 2016, when the Finns defeated the Russians 4-3 in overtime for home-ice gold in Helsinki.
Sweden has won two World Junior gold medals, coming in 1981 (West Germany) and 2012 (Calgary, Canada). In the last triumph, Mika Zibanejad notched the 1-0 overtime winner against the Russians. The Swedes have more silver medals than any other nation (12). Their latest silver medal was in 2024 as they lost the final 6-2 to the Americans.
Czechia is playing for its third gold medal ever. It won both its previous final appearances: 1-0 over the Russians in 2000 (Skelleftea, Sweden) and 2-1 over Finland in 2001 (Moscow, Russia). The Czechs have medaled three years in a row (2023 silver, 2024 and 2025 bronze) and will extend that streak to four years.
Canada, the all-time leader in World Junior titles (20), last medalled in 2023, winning gold on home ice in Halifax. The Canadians have lost in the playoffs to the Czechs three years in a row, including 6-4 in this year's semi-finals, and will be seeking some consolation versus Finland.
Finland is looking for its eighth bronze medal all-time, the last one coming in 2021. The Finns earned silver last year under head coach Lauri Mikkola with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Americans.