World Juniors schedule set. Clear your calendar and charge your devices. I can confirm the full slate is locked, with puck drops set from morning to prime time and rivalry nights built to roar. The best under 20 players on earth are about to take over Minnesota. The chase for gold runs hot and fast.
Tournament at a glance
Group play runs from December 26 to December 31. Quarterfinals hit on January 2, semifinals on January 4, and the medal games close it on January 5. Games are split between Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis. Local fans get Central Time starts, and they come in three windows most days, late morning, mid afternoon, and prime time.
The format stays simple. Two groups. Top four in each group advance to the quarterfinals. Fifth place teams move into the relegation series. Points decide the table, then head to head and goal differential if needed.
Must watch games and local start times
Circle these. They decide bragging rights and shape the bracket.
- Opening night, USA opener, December 26, 7:30 p.m. CT. Electric building, fresh legs. (8:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. PT)
- Canada vs USA, December 31, 7:30 p.m. CT. The rivalry that sets the tone for January. (8:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. PT)
- Sweden vs Finland, December 30, 2:00 p.m. CT. Structure vs steel, always tight. (3:00 p.m. ET, 12:00 p.m. PT)
- Czechia vs Slovakia, December 27, 11:00 a.m. CT. Pride on the line, prospects on display. (12:00 p.m. ET, 9:00 a.m. PT)
- Quarterfinals, January 2, all day. Early puck to late drama. Local windows at 11:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. CT
Time zones matter. Set alerts in Central Time if you are in the Twin Cities, or add an hour for Eastern viewers.
How to watch
In Canada, TSN and RDS carry every game, with streaming on TSN Direct and RDS Direct. In the United States, NHL Network has full coverage, with authenticated streaming through participating providers. Many cable and streaming bundles carry NHL Network, including select tiers on Fubo and Sling. In markets without a rights holder, the IIHF digital platform will service select territories. Check your provider today, not at puck drop.
If you are local, the venues run on mobile ticketing. Security is efficient, but lines spike near warmups. Aim to be in your seat 20 minutes before game time for anthems and lineups.
Why these matchups matter
This field is loaded. Canada brings size down the middle and a power play built around a heavy shot from the flank. USA answers with speed, pace through the neutral zone, and layers on the forecheck. Sweden is so clean in structure, breakouts snap tape to tape. Finland locks the slot, defends the blue paint, then punishes mistakes. Czechia is rugged and clever, with net-front screens that drive goalies wild.
Draft boards will swing on these games. Top six minutes in this event carry weight with scouts. One strong penalty kill in a tied third period can move a player up a round. Watch Canada’s finishing talent in tight. Track the USA transition game from the back end. Keep an eye on Sweden’s puck support in the corners. Finland’s centers win draws, then win shifts. The Czech wingers hunt loose pucks and turn them into greasy goals.
A few names will own the week. Canada’s Porter Martone has the release and the frame to live in the hard areas. The USA forward group is deep, fast, and relentless. Sweden’s first pair is calm and cold under pressure. Finland’s next wave plays mature hockey for their age. Expect big minutes for top penalty killers and top faceoff men.
Bring layers if you are going. The walk between venues bites when the wind picks up. Concessions are cashless, and arena Wi-Fi handles high traffic well.
The road to medals
Seeding matters, so group results carry weight. First place draws the fourth seed from the other group in the quarterfinals. Second meets third, and so on. Win your group, and you set a cleaner path to the gold game. Lose a sleepy morning game, and a giant waits in the next round.
Quarterfinal day on January 2 runs in waves, early, mid, and prime windows in Central Time. Semifinals on January 4 are stacked for drama, with enough rest to keep legs fresh. Bronze hits first on January 5, then gold closes the tournament in the evening with a local prime time puck drop. Expect a full building, flags everywhere, and every check finished.
Tiebreakers can get spicy late in the group. Goal differential and head to head often decide spots. Coaches will pull goalies late to chase a margin. Keep one eye on the out of town scores, because a swing goal elsewhere can change your opponent.
The bottom line
The World Juniors schedule is set, and the stage in Minnesota is perfect. Plan your week now. Lock in your screens, grab your tickets, and pick your must watch games. I will track lines, injuries, and updates daily. Puck drops early. Legs go late. Gold gets decided when the kids play like pros.
