2026 World Juniors Quarter-final Bracket Predictions
2026 World Juniors Bracket: Predicting the Path to Gold in Minnesota
As the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship moves into its final days of the preliminary round in Minnesota, the bracket for the Quarter-finals is nearly set. With powerhouses like the USA and Canada showing early dominance, the road to the gold medal in St. Paul is becoming clear.
Here is a news report and bracket prediction for the upcoming knockout stage.
Path to Glory: 2026 World Juniors Quarter-final Predictions
ST. PAUL, MN — The 50th edition of the World Juniors has lived up to its “State of Hockey” billing. As the preliminary round concludes at the Grand Casino Arena and 3M Arena at Mariucci, the focus shifts to the win-or-go-home Quarter-finals on January 2, 2026.
Current Standings & Group Dynamics
-
Group A (St. Paul): Sweden and the USA are currently battling for the top seed. Both teams entered their New Year’s Eve showdown undefeated. Slovakia has secured the third spot, while Switzerland and Germany fight to avoid the relegation game.
-
Group B (Minneapolis): Canada, led by phenom Gavin McKenna, leads the pack but faced a scare in an overtime win against Latvia. Finland and Czechia remain lethal threats, occupying the second and third seeds respectively.
Predicted Quarter-final Bracket
Based on current standings and remaining matchups, here is how the January 2nd cross-over bracket is expected to look:
