ZÜRICH, 25 May 2026

The United States and Norway claimed vital wins on Sunday at the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship in Zürich, setting up a high-stakes final group-stage match between Team USA and Austria.

In an afternoon upset, Norway dominated the reigning world champion Czechs 4-1 to book a quarterfinal berth for the first time since 2012. Havard Östrem Salsten opened the scoring after just three minutes, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard doubled the lead four minutes later.

Czechia pulled one back through Jaroslvan Chmelar in the 16th minute, but Norwegian goalie Henrik Haukeland frustrated the favorites with a series of clutch saves as the Czechs outshot Norway heavily. Martin Ronnild and Brandsegg-Nygard tallied in the third period to seal the historic victory.

Norway Ends 14-Year Quarterfinal Drought

Norway’s result completed a remarkable turnaround: earlier in the tournament they had pushed Canada to overtime before losing 6-5, and now they sit second in the group behind only Canada.

The USA fulfilled their duty with a 7-3 win over Hungary, but not without a brief scare. NHL star Matthew Tkachuk made it 2-0 before the first intermission, and Ryan Leonard and Faulk extended the lead to 4-0 early in the second.

Csanad Erdely got Hungary on the board shortly after, yet Leonard’s second of the night restored the four-goal cushion. Two quick Hungarian goals in the final period sliced the deficit to 5-3, but Max Plante’s marker with 27 seconds left sealed the American victory.

USA Fulfills Duty, Faces Austria Decider

The win keeps the Americans in the running for the quarterfinals, but they need a regulation-time victory against Austria on Tuesday (16:20 CET) to overtake Germany and Teamchef Roger Bader’s side in the standings.

Austria enters that showdown with their backs against the wall after an ice-cold Pfingstwochenende in sweltering Zürich. Consecutive defeats to Germany (2-6) and Finland (2-5) have left them depending on a win over the Olympic champions to reach the knockout stage.

Yet hope persists. A Black Wings forward told reporters, “Ich glaube an uns” (I believe in us), reinforcing the team’s conviction that they can pull off the upset.

Austria Clings to Quarterfinal Hope

Only a win after 60 minutes against the USA will suffice for Austria; any other result would see them eliminated. The scenario echoes the drama of the final group-stage matchday, where multiple teams still vie for the remaining quarterfinal spots.

Germany also kept their campaign on track with a routine 6-3 victory over Great Britain. Three different scorers built a 3-0 lead by the first intermission, and six different Germans ultimately found the net to secure the required win.

Slovenia overpowered Italy 5-1 in a direct relegation clash. Italy took a brief lead in the 23rd minute, but Slovenia shifted gears after the halfway mark, scoring five unanswered goals to condemn Italy to the second relegation spot alongside Great Britain.

Germany and Slovenia Also Secure Wins

The loss confirmed Italy’s drop to Division 1 for next year, while Slovenia avoided the danger zone.

Earlier in the tournament, Norway had already shown its mettle by taking Canada to the brink. The Canadians needed a 6-5 overtime win to escape the Scandinavians, highlighting how evenly matched the middle tier of this tournament has become.

With the quarterfinal picture still unresolved, Tuesday’s USA versus Austria matchup promises to deliver high tension. The Americans boast a firepower advantage, having outshot Hungary 48-17, but Austria’s desperation and the unpredictability of a single-elimination context could level the ice.

Quarterfinal Picture: All Eyes on Tuesday

For Norway, the journey to a first quarterfinal in over a decade has been built on team defense and timely scoring. Goalie Haukeland has been a standout, and the team’s confidence is riding high after rattling the Czechs.

Looking ahead, the outcome of the USA-Austria clash will also determine the fates of other contenders. If Austria wins, the group standings will reshuffle dramatically; if the USA prevails, Roger Bader’s side will be left to rue their earlier missed opportunities.

The tournament continues through the week with quarterfinals to follow shortly after the group stage concludes.