World Championship Odds: Who Will Win the 2026 IIHF World Championship?

Off the heels of one of the best international hockey tournaments at this year’s Winter Olympics, we have the 2026 IIHF World Championships. 

For the unfamiliar, each year the International Ice Hockey Federation puts on a World Championship with a field of 16 countries. This year’s tournament takes place in Switzerland with two host cities in Zurich and Fribourg. 

Team USA won gold at last year’s tournament, held in Sweden and Denmark. 

Here’s a look at where the odds stand for who’ll win gold at this year’s tournament as of May 19.  

2026 IIHF World Championship Odds

Who’s Favored to Win the 2026 IIHF World Championship?

Canada (-130)

Canada is hoping to avenge their loss at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics with a win at this year’s IIHF World Championships. 

They’re bringing a star-studded roster to Switzerland that’s headlined by Hart Trophy candidate Macklin Celebrini and NHL legend Sidney Crosby. While Celebrini was a standout performer for Canada in Milan, Crosby had a disappointing Olympic experience, missing the gold medal game due to injury. 

Crosby and Celebrini are the only repeat players from the Olympics. 

Despite those two bringing over some continuity from the Milan Cortina roster, there’s a major change to their roles on the team. At this tournament Celebrini will be wearing the C and Crosby will be an assistant captain. 

This is likely because Celebrini was already the captain for the team going in to the tournament before Crosby replaced Islanders forward Mathew Barzal when the Penguins were eliminated from the playoffs. 

Rounding out the rest of Canada’s leadership group at the tournament are veteran forwards John Tavares and Ryan O’Reilly. Other standouts on the roster include Edmonton defenseman Evan Bouchard, Ottawa forward Dylan Cozens, and Bruins forward Fraser Minten. 

This roster is far more talented than any other team at the World Championship. 

Maybe it’s because of the ongoing playoffs or players being tired after competing in the Olympics earlier this year, but a lot of the NHL’s premier talent are not representing their countries at this year’s IIHF tournament. 

By comparison, the Team USA roster’s only real star player is Matthew Tkachuk, who was a late addition to the tournament. 

There isn’t another team in the tournament that has a player on the same level as Celebrini or Crosby. This should be an easy gold medal win for Canada.