Where can I watch the 2026 IIHF World Championship in the UK?

The main option for watching all the matches of the Ice Hockey World Championship is IIHF.TV; Premier Sport also offers live streaming in the UK.

Can I bet on Great Britain to stay in the top division?

Yes, of course you can bet on the British team retaining their division. Many local and international bookmakers licensed by the UKGC offer this option. Take a look at our rankings to find the best one.

What happens if a hockey match ends in a draw?

The outcome depends on the betting market you use: with the 1X2 market, you win, but with the No Draw market, the bookmaker refunds your stake, for example.

How do the NHL playoffs affect IIHF betting?

It adds a great deal more competitiveness to IIHF events as it tends to boost the USA and Canada enormously, thereby altering the odds for the playoffs.

Who won the last IIHF World Championship?

The United States is the reigning IIHF World Championship champion, having beaten Canada 3-2 in a match that was intense from start to finish.

Is there a "Bet Builder" for ice hockey?

Yes, of course. UK ice hockey bookmakers offer Bet Builder so that British punters can select multiple events from a single match in one bet.

What is the "Grand Salami" in ice hockey betting?

The Grand Salami is a total goals bet covering all ice hockey matches of the day. Example: betting on the total goals to be Over 21.5 across the 6 matches of the day.

Are goals scored in overtime included in Total Goals bets?

It depends entirely on the bookmaker, as many do include them, but others only count goals scored during the three 20-minute periods of the match,

2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Betting

Last update at 15 May, 2026⏲️ Reading time: 6 minutes

Best UK Bookmakers for Ice Hockey Betting

If you’re looking for good odds on the Ice Hockey World Championship, sign up and make your first deposit at the UKGC-licensed bookmakers we’ll show you below. They offer plenty of deals, exclusive promotions and betting features such as live streaming to help you make the most of this event. They’re our favourites!

UK Bookmaker Comparison Table

Bookmaker	Ice Hockey Speciality	Market Variety	Mobile App Experience	Visit
Review	Exclusive promotions for the tournament	Extensive (+200 markets, focus on player events)	Intuitive and modern app	Bet now!
Review	Cashout and advanced BetBuilder	Good, offers long-term bets	App very well optimised for live betting	Bet now!
Review	Competitive odds for pre-match fixtures	Very good, large number of prop bets	No app, but offers a stable mobile website	Bet now!
Review	Live streaming for top matches	Competitive offering (key markets)	Advanced app, highly rated by users	Bet now!

Key Facts – 2026 IIHF World Championship

The 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship is the sport’s most important tournament alongside the NHL. The 16 best national teams compete here over two frenetic weeks, including Great Britain and the all-powerful USA and Canada, who are currently the favourites in their groups. Let’s take a look at some key facts about this tournament that you might not have known!

Tournament Overview – Switzerland 2026

Details	Information
Organiser	IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation)
Dates	15–31 May 2026
Host Cities	Zurich (Swiss Life Arena) & Fribourg (BCF Arena)
Total Teams	16 national teams
Defending Champion	United States (2025 winners)

Team GB at the 2026 World Championship

Great Britain faces a very tough challenge. Group A, in which they are placed, features three of the five tournament favourites, including the United States and Switzerland, the hosts of this edition who will have home advantage.

Fortunately, Pete Russell is in charge and has a fairly clear strategy: to survive as long as possible and finish in the top four of the group to advance to the quarter-finals and spring a surprise that few are expecting.

He is the most successful coach in British ice hockey and the man responsible for the team’s rapid promotion from Division I-B to the Elite Division. This not only offers hope; it also opens up a world of betting opportunities with highly attractive odds for the British team.

Groups & Tournament Format

To understand the betting for the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, you first need to know the groups and the tournament format.

There are two groups here: A and B. Group A matches are played in Zurich and Group B matches in Fribourg. Each group has a total of eight teams, which face each other once during the preliminary round, meaning that all teams play seven matches in this phase.

The top four teams advance to the quarter-finals, where there are no second chances; any team that loses a match goes home without a title. The bottom team in each group is relegated to Division I-A.

The top two teams in the tournament face off in a single-match final, with the winner crowned champion of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

Let’s take a look at the groups below:

Group A (Zurich): USA, Switzerland (host), Finland, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Hungary, Great Britain.
Group B (Fribourg): Canada, Sweden, Czechia, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway, Slovenia, Italy.

Betting Markets & Odds for Switzerland 2026

The odds for the Ice Hockey World Championship are highly volatile as they can be affected by power plays and all sorts of unpredictable events. Every 20-minute period feels like a new match. Here we have compiled the latest odds for this tournament. Take a look below.

2026 World Championship Winner Odds (Projected)

Nation	Projected Odds	Betting Note
Canada	11/8	The tournament favourites, the team currently in the best form.
Finland	5/1	Strong defence and attack, a very solid team that has historically been difficult to beat in short tournaments.
Switzerland	5/1	The host team, they have the advantage of playing at home.
United States	13/2	Reigning champions, a young team with plenty of quality and physical strength.
Sweden	13/2	An underrated team with very good betting odds.

Odds updated May 15

Tips for Betting on the IIHF World Championship

Watch the Rosters: players from teams eliminated in the Playoffs join their national teams to bolster them and compete in the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
The relegation battle: matches between Great Britain, Italy, Slovenia and Hungary are played with fierce intensity as all teams are desperate to avoid relegation; British bookmakers offer very tight odds for these fixtures.
Power Plays: analysing the teams’ power play performance is key to making good bets for the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship
IIHF betting tips in the UK: forget about complex match analysis and let our experts handle the predictions for the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship for you.

FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I watch the 2026 IIHF World Championship in the UK?
The main option for watching all the matches of the Ice Hockey World Championship is IIHF.TV; Premier Sport also offers live streaming in the UK.
Can I bet on Great Britain to stay in the top division?
Yes, of course you can bet on the British team retaining their division. Many local and international bookmakers licensed by the UKGC offer this option. Take a look at our rankings to find the best one.
What happens if a hockey match ends in a draw?
The outcome depends on the betting market you use: with the 1X2 market, you win, but with the No Draw market, the bookmaker refunds your stake, for example.
How do the NHL playoffs affect IIHF betting?
It adds a great deal more competitiveness to IIHF events as it tends to boost the USA and Canada enormously, thereby altering the odds for the playoffs.
Who won the last IIHF World Championship?
The United States is the reigning IIHF World Championship champion, having beaten Canada 3-2 in a match that was intense from start to finish.
Is there a "Bet Builder" for ice hockey?
Yes, of course. UK ice hockey bookmakers offer Bet Builder so that British punters can select multiple events from a single match in one bet.
What is the "Grand Salami" in ice hockey betting?
The Grand Salami is a total goals bet covering all ice hockey matches of the day. Example: betting on the total goals to be Over 21.5 across the 6 matches of the day.
Are goals scored in overtime included in Total Goals bets?
It depends entirely on the bookmaker, as many do include them, but others only count goals scored during the three 20-minute periods of the match,