How to watch Canada vs Ireland in the USA

Viewers can tune in to this marquee contest through multiple viewing options. The broadcast will be available on FS2, with live streaming offered via Fubo, DirecTV Stream, and Hulu + Live TV.

Fans watching on any of these services will be able to catch every crucial play, momentum-shifting moment, and dramatic finish as the matchup unfolds in real time.

Can I watch Canada vs Ireland for free?

Soccer supporters in the United States can watch this featured matchup live on Fubo, DirecTV Stream, and Hulu + Live TV, all carrying the channel broadcasting the game nationwide.

New users can also take advantage of free trials, including five days from Fubo and DirecTV Stream and three days from Hulu + Live TV, to stream the action at no initial cost.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

With the World Cup on the horizon, Canada continues to build momentum and refine a squad capable of making a deep run on home soil. Fresh off a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan, the Canadians return home aiming to extend their strong form against Ireland in another valuable test.

Ireland, on the other hand, arrive with plenty to prove after an unexpected second-place finish in their qualifying group ultimately ended in playoff heartbreak, leaving them outside the World Cup field.

Now focused on laying the foundation for future competitions, Ireland will look to challenge a Canadian side eager to keep its upward trajectory moving forward.

Canada vs Ireland: Predicted Lineups

Canada (4-4-2): Dayne St. Clair, Alistair Johnston, Joel Waterman, Derek Cornelius, Alphonso Davies, Tajon Buchanan, Stephen Eustáquio, Ismaël Koné, Jacob Shaffelburg, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin.

Ireland (5-3-2): Mark Travers, Seamus Coleman, Nathan Collins, Jake O’Brien, Liam Scales, Corrie Ndaba, Jayson Molumby, Conor Coventry, Jamie McGrath, Chiedozie Ogbene, Troy Parrott.

What time is the Canada vs Ireland match?

The match kicks off today, June 5, at 7:30 PM (ET). For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

Eastern Time: 7:30 PM
Central Time: 6:30 PM
Mountain Time: 5:30 PM
Pacific Time: 4:30 PM

How to watch Canada vs Uzbekistan in the USA

Fans will have several ways to watch this highly anticipated matchup live. The game will air on FS2, while streaming options include Fubo, DirecTV Stream, and Hulu + Live TV.

Each platform will provide live coverage of the event, giving viewers the chance to follow every key moment, game-changing sequence, and late drama as the action unfolds.

Can I watch Canada vs Uzbekistan for free?

Soccer fans in the United States will be able to catch this marquee contest live on Fubo, DirecTV Stream, and Hulu + Live TV, with each service carrying the channel broadcasting the event nationwide.

Viewers can also take advantage of free trial offers, including five days from Fubo and DirecTV Stream and three days from Hulu + Live TV, to watch the game live without an immediate subscription fee.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Canada and Uzbekistan will use this international friendly as a key tune-up ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, with both nations carrying ambitious goals into the tournament. Co-host Canada is eager to capitalize on a rare opportunity to compete on home soil and deliver its best World Cup performance yet.

Uzbekistan, on the other side, enters uncharted territory after securing the nation’s first-ever berth in the competition. Despite their newcomer status, the Uzbeks have impressed throughout qualifying and arrive with confidence that they can make a deeper run than many expect.

With both sides focused on building momentum and fine-tuning their squads, this matchup offers an early glimpse at two World Cup hopefuls determined to make history.

Canada vs Uzbekistan: Predicted Lineups

Canada (4-4-2): Crepeau; Johnston, Cornelius, Waterman, Laryea; Buchanan, Eustaquio, Kone, Ahmed; J. David, Larin.

Uzbekistan (3-4-3): Yusupov; Eshmurodov, Khusanov, Ashurmatov; Alijonov, Hamrobekov, Shukurov, Sayfiev; Masharipov, Shomurodov, Fayzullaev.

What time is the Canada vs Uzbekistan match?

The match kicks off today, June 1, at 9:00 PM (ET). For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

Eastern Time: 9:00 PM
Central Time: 8:00 PM
Mountain Time: 7:00 PM
Pacific Time: 6:00 PM

“It’s a waste of time to come over here and leave with nothing,” Ryan O’Reilly admitted following the 3-2 defeat at the hands of Norway, via World Hockey Report on X.

As heartbreaking as it was, coming away with no medals around their necks was nothing new for O’Reilly and the rest of Hockey Canada. Last year, they fell in the quarterfinals to Denmark and came away with nothing to show for, too. This time around, however, things felt different.

Canada comes away empty-handed

What started as a recurring joke on social media turned into reality. After Canada defeated Team USA by a score of 4-0 in the quarterfinals, many argued the Canadians were overcelebrating, trying to compensate for the true best-on-best matchup at the 2026 Olympics, which the Americans won in overtime thanks to golden boy Jack Hughes.

In the end, Canada’s gold medal was beating the States. It had gone undefeated throughout the tournament, but Canada was eliminated by Finland in the semifinals. The Canadians still had something to play for in the bronze-medal game.

Facing Norway, they were heavy favorites to come away with bronze as a consolation prize. However, the Norwegians had different plans. It meant much more to them than it did to their Canadian counterparts. As a result, the Land of the Midnight Sun secured its first medal in IIHF World Championship history.

Canadian hockey crisis

Meanwhile, Canada has gone medal-less for the third straight year in the annual IIHF World Championship. Considering the country’s rich history of dominating the sport, yet another setback—combined with the Olympic silver medal that still lingers—is reason enough to consider that Hockey Canada is in the midst of a crisis.

Following the 4-2 loss, Canada has been eliminated. Canada’s pursuit of its 29th IIHF World Championship title has come to a crushing end. Although the Finns were always considered contenders and a force to be reckoned with, many expected Canada to run away with the gold medal after such a dominant showing against the Americans.

Finland had different plans, though, and Canada is now headed for the back-door exit once again. For the third straight year, the Great White North was in for a whole lot of disappointment on the international stage. As for the Finns, they are off to the final in search of the country’s fifth championship and first since 2022, when Finland defeated Canada in the title game.

Canada has one game left

Although Canada has been knocked out of the elimination stage in the 2026 IIHF World Championship, it still has something to play for. Whether Sidney Crosby, Macklin Celebrini, and company can return from their trip in Switzerland with a medal will lie entirely on how they fare in the bronze-medal game.

Canada will face Norway, who lost to Switzerland by a score of 6-0 in the other semifinal, in the bronze-medal matchup. The game is scheduled on May 31 at 9:30 am ET at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich.

Gold-medal game

The host, Switzerland, will take on Finland in the title game of the 2026 IIHF World Championship. For the second time in the last three years, neither Canada nor the USA will be competing for first place in the international tournament.

Switzerland has never won the World Championship before, although it has reached—and lost—the gold-medal game five times. Playing on home ice, the Swiss vie to right those wrongs, but they will have their hands full going up against Aleksander Barkov and a Finnish team that just knocked the favorites out in convincing fashion.

The international dream is now over for USA. The defeat at the hands of its biggest rivals in hockey made sure to that. As a result, Team USA has been eliminated from the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Meanwhile, the Maple Leaf is off to the semifinals. Who Canada will play next in the IIHF Worlds will be decided when the winning teams are reseeded.

As they suffered an early elimination in the World Championship, Matthew Tkachuk and Team USA officially enter the offseason. It will be a long summer until the 2026-27 NHL season comes around, and the sour taste will remain in their mouths after a heartbreaking defeat to Canada.

Despite being without Evan Bouchard for most of the game against Team USA, Canada pushed through to advance past its rivals. The Americans will now fly back home across the Atlantic Ocean with sorrow in their hearts and no medal around their necks.

USA is eliminated

The reigning IIHF World champions are out of the tournament. Though boasting a very different lineup, Team USA was looking to conquer back-to-back championships for the first time in country history.

The American dream of the team’s fifth championship in this tournament came to the worst possible ending, as it was none other than the Great White North who knocked them out of the tournament.

The United States have won the IIHF World Championship in 1933, 1960, and 2025. With this defeat, ghosts from the past are resurfacing. No one wants to endure another long drought.

Canada avoids disaster

It’d have been déjà vu for Crosby, Celebrini, and Canada. Once again, Crosby has headed to Europe in search of redemption after a rough ending to the NHL season. This time, he was determined not to suffer another early exit.

It happened in 2025, when Canada was bounced in this same stage by Denmark. It has happened again. Only this time, Canada’s slim reaper would’ve been the one team it wished it were not: the USA. Instead, the Maple Leaf recorded its 43rd win over the Stars and Stripes in World Championship history.

After coming out medal-less in 2024 and 2025, Canada is now guaranteed to play for a medal in the 2026 IIHF World Championship. The drought, if a two-year span can be called that, could now be over.

Game summary

Canada broke the deadlock in the first period thanks to a power-play goal from its captain, Macklin Celebrini. The Americans couldn’t escape the Canadians’ chokehold and Dylan Holloway doubled his country’s lead 9:48 minutes into the second period.

There was still half a game left to be played, but that was all she wrote for the USA. The Canadians added two goals on an empty net for good measure as they defeated their neighbors by a score of 4-0. In the end, Canada’s veterancy and star-studded roster proved too much to handle. Celebrini, Holloway, Brown, and Crosby scored the goals for Canada to reach the semifinals.

Because winning teams will be reseeded after the quarterfinal stage and there is no fixed bracket, Canada did not learn who it would play next until all games of the round had been completed. The Canadians did not have to wait too long, though.

Once the second slate of the quarterfinals games come to an end, the winner of the latest edition of North America’s rivalry learned who—and when—it will play for a place in the gold-medal game. The “where” was already set, as the semifinals, as well as the medal games, will be held at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich.

Canada to face Finland

During its victory over the USA, Canada showed why it finished the preliminary round as the best team in the entire tournament and first in Group B. As a result, the Canadians will face the lowest-seeded team out of Group A in the semis. With Team USA (the lowest seeded team) out of the picture, the options shrunk for Canada.

Canada will take on Finland (2nd in Group A) in the semis. The Finns are coming off a strong 4-1 win over Czechia, continuing to prove just how big of a contender they are. Now, they will be up for a challenge unlike any other. Coming off a final before final against the USA, Canada is set for another championship-caliber showdown.

Best seeds are still standing

Following the quarterfinals round, the top-four seeded teams are still in contention for the 2026 IIHF World Championship. In the semifinals, No. 1 seeds will go up against No. 2 seeds, as Canada faces Finland, and Switzerland takes on Norway.

• No. 1 Switzerland vs No. 2 Norway
• No. 1 Canada vs No. 2 Finland

Save the date

The semifinals of the 2026 IIHF World Championship will be played on May 30 at Swiss Life Arena. As Switzerland reached this stage, it will play in the opening slate at 9:20 a.m. ET—meaning Canada will play in the second slate at 2:00 p.m. ET.

The bronze-medal game, as well as the gold-medal game, will take place on May 31 at 9:30 a.m. ET and 2:20 p.m. ET, respectively.

Lindgren caught Bouchard defenseless with a shoulder hit to his neck/head area. The Edmonton Oilers’ blueliner was leveled to the ice and became motionless as he made contact with the frozen surface, causing fans at BCF Arena and watching from their couches to turn their eyes away.

After a pause in the game, he was helped off the ice. Bouchard has been confirmed out of the game and will undergo concussion protocol. Canada is now without its top blueliner as it vies to avenge recent defeats to Team USA.

Lindgren tossed out of the game

After a review, on-ice officials assessed a major penalty for checking to the head on Lindgren, as well as a game misconduct. Some might say it was an eye for an eye as both sides will be without their best defensemen. However, it’s hardly a fair deal for Bouchard and Canada, as the star blueliner’s health is now something to keep an eye on.

Perhaps still shocked from seeing Bouchard’s frightening injury, the Canadians failed to get much going during the five-minute power play. They recorded just four shots and no goals on the Americans’ penalty-killing unit.

Bouchard’s injury concerns

According to a report from Frank Seravalli, Bouchard experienced concussion-like symptoms last month during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If his concussion is indeed confirmed during the 2026 IIHF World Championship, it would raise even greater concerns about his health. Traumatic head injuries in such a short period of time could put his professional career at risk.

Team USA and Canada arrive at the meeting after completing starkly contrasting preliminary rounds. The Americans struggled to find their footing and as a result barely made it out of Group A, finishing in fourth place. Meanwhile, the Canadians blew their competition out of the water en route to a first-place finish in Group B. However, in the knockout stage, one slip-up can be costly.

The Stars and Stripes vie to keep the good times rolling. Team USA, though with a very different roster, defeated Canada in the Olympics’ gold-medal game. Months later, they still hold bragging rights. This matchup in the 2026 IIHF World Championship likely won’t change that, but it’s still a showdown both sides much rather walk away victorious from.

What happens if USA wins vs Canada?

If Team USA defeats Canada, the Americans will advance to the semifinals of the 2026 IIHF World Championship. The reigning champions will keep their pursuit for back-to-back titles alive, while continuing to torment their septentrional neighbors in the Great White North.

Whom Team USA would play next after defeating Canada will only be determined once the entire quarterfinals games are played, as winning teams will be reseeded after the round.

Finland (2nd in Group A) will face Czechia (3rd in Group B) simultaneously to the USA’s bout against Canada. In the second slate, Switzerland (1st in Group A) will take on Sweden (4th in Group B), while Latvia (3rd in Group A) will face Norway (2nd in Group B).

What happens if Team USA loses?

If Team USA falls against Canada, it will be knocked out of the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Summer would arrive early for the Americans—though leaving them with a sour taste—and their streak of international conquests would come to an end.

As for Canada, having finished first in its group during the preliminary round and with the best points total, it would face the lowest-seeded team remaining in the semifinals stage.

What happens if Team USA and Canada tie?

If the two sides are still at a stalemate by the end of regulation, the winner will be decided through a 10-minute sudden-death overtime. The extra period will be played three-on-three (three skaters and a goalie per side). If Team USA and Canada fail to score during those 10 minutes, the game will move on to a shootout.

The IIHF’s shootout procedure indicates that five skaters from each team will take shots alternately until a decisive goal is scored. If the two teams are still tied after five shots, the shootout will shift into a tiebreak round.

During the tiebreak, teams are not obliged to change shooters, meaning the same player can take every shot for one team. Perhaps a shootout specialist becomes the key factor in deciding who moves on to the semifinals.

“We named [Celebrini] captain before [Crosby] agreed to participate,” Treliving stated, via Toronto Sun. “When Sid came, he was adamant that Mack remain the captain. At the same time, Mack was adamant that Sid be the captain.“

In the end, it would appear Crosby had the final say in the matter. According to a report from Chris Johnston, it was a player-led decision to keep the ‘C’ on Celebrini’s jersey. However, things could’ve turned out differently had Crosby asked to wear the ‘C’ rather than an ‘A’.

Crosby’s role exceeds title

In more ways than one, that speaks to both Crosby’s selflessness and his impact on everyday decisions. One could say it’s proof that Crosby is, and forever will be, “Captain Canada.” As long as he is still playing, other stars may earn the title, but it may only be a formality.

Crosby is the leader everybody looks up to. And that doesn’t take anything away from Celebrini—or any other player on Canada‘s roster—and their importance. “Sid the Kid” is simply a step above. Scoring the golden goal in 2010 is only the tip of the iceberg.

Canada’s hot start in Worlds

With 5-3 and 6-0 victories over Sweden and Italy, respectively, Canada got off to a great start in Group B of the 2026 IIHF World Championship. So far, Crosby has an assist (on a goal by Celebrini) through the opening two games. Celebrini has three points with two goals and an assist.

Canada has five games left in group stage with matchups against Denmark (who knocked Crosby and Canada out in quarterfinals last year), Norway, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Czechia.

“Macklin Celebrini will remain as captain for Canada at the IIHF World Hockey Championship, with Sidney Crosby wearing an ‘A’. That was decided after a player-led discussion,” Chris Johnston reported on his X account. “The players wanted Celebrini to keep the ‘C’.“

Although Crosby will always be considered Captain Canada, he will not lace up the skates forever. Moreover, this might be the sacrifice Canada needs to exorcise the ghosts of its past. The last time Crosby played for his national team without a ‘C’ on his sweater, good things happened. In fact, those were the golden days.

2010 Winter Olympics

The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver were the last major tournament in which Crosby played for his country in a non-captain role. Everybody knows how that story ended—especially Crosby, who scored the golden goal in overtime to lift Canada past Team USA and secure the national men’s team’s eighth gold medal in Winter Olympics history.

More than a decade and a half later—16 years, to be precise—Crosby will serve as an alternate captain while another player wears the ‘C’. Perhaps that is exactly what the Great White North needs to snap its championship drought—if it can even be called one. Canada’s last major title came at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. Or the 4 Nations Face-Off, depending on who you ask.

Passing of the torch in Canada

Everybody knew the day would arrive sooner or later. Perhaps Canadians did not expect it to happen in such a confusing—or possibly dramatic—fashion, but there may never be a perfect way to make it happen. One way or another, there has been a passing of the torch regardless.

Either way, for the first time since 2010, there will be a new captain on a Hockey Canada squad featuring Crosby, and it will be none other than Macklin Celebrini. Connor McDavid did captain the team in this year’s gold medal game against Team USA, but even he admitted he was simply keeping the ‘C’ warm for Crosby, who was sidelined with a lower-body injury. Thus, it is the 19-year-old from North Vancouver who has been handed the torch—not McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon.

Celebrini earned it

Coming off a 115-point season in just his sophomore NHL campaign and after establishing himself as one of the best players at the Olympics, Celebrini has proven he belongs at this level. Now, he will be tasked with leading a roster filled with veterans despite being the second-youngest player on the team. In fact, if not for Porter Martone’s late decision to join the squad, Celebrini would have been the youngest player on the roster.

The veterans will have to listen to the kid. It should not be too hard, especially considering they have been listening to “Sid the Kid” for the past decade and a half. Now, there is a new high-pitched voice in charge—one that already has 178 career points in just 152 NHL games.

Something to keep an eye on

“We’ll figure it out. No, [it doesn’t matter to me]. Obviously, it’s an honor anytime you get to wear the ‘C’, but we’ve got so many great leaders. It’ll be a quick discussion,” Crosby had said prior to the report in dialogue with TSN. “[Celebrini] has had an unbelievable year. He looks amazing out there. I can see why he got selected.”

As for Celebrini, his message signaled he didn’t wish to give up the ‘C’ so easily. “Everybody knows [Crosby] is Captain Canada. He’s been the captain for so many years and the face of Canada and hockey in general. Just got to talk about it,“ he commented.

Quoting Johnston’s report, “the players wanted Celebrini to keep the ‘C’.” However, that begs the question, what did Crosby say behind closed doors? Will this turn out to be a source of conflict inside the locker room? It seems unlikely considering Crosby has always been selfless and very supportive of Celebrini in the national team. All that matters for Crosby and company is walking away of Switzerland as the 2026 IIHF World Championship winners.

“[McKenna] and his agent decided it would be better for the top prospect to stay home and work on his goal of adding strength and mass over the offseason,” as reported by Tom Hunter on his X account. “Committing to playing in the World Championship is more than a month long process.“

The Toronto Maple Leafs own the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, and it seems like a given that they will select the 18-year-old out of Penn State. According to reports, the Maple Leafs have no worries about McKenna. The winger’s abilities and playmaking leave little room for doubt around the league.

McKenna’s size is reason for concern

If there is one asterisk—and perhaps the main reason behind the speculation surrounding his draft stock—it is his size. McKenna is listed at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, according to NHL.com. Barring an unprecedented growth spurt between now and June 26, McKenna will not be any taller by the time the Maple Leafs announce their pick at KeyBank Center. However, he can still get bigger and stronger.

That appears to be the goal, and one major reason why McKenna has not flown across the Atlantic to join Team Canada in Switzerland for the 2026 IIHF World Championship. If there is a silver lining for McKenna that should keep him confident about being selected first overall, it is the fact that his biggest competition, Ivar Stenberg, is not much bigger than he is. According to Elite Prospects, Stenberg is listed at 6-foot-0 and 181 pounds.

The two best prospects in this year’s class are undersized wingers, which leaves room for speculation. A 6-foot-2 center like Caleb Malhotra could give them a run for their money for the No. 1 spot, but for now, McKenna still appears to have the upper hand.

No McKenna vs Stenberg showdown

While stepping down from Team Canada’s roster for the World Championship may be the right decision for McKenna, fans across the globe would have loved to see him play alongside the likes of Crosby and Celebrini on a major international stage. Moreover, when Canada makes its debut against Sweden in Group B, everybody will wonder what could have been, as Stenberg will be on the ice while McKenna will not.

The top two prospects in the 2026 draft class could have headlined a showdown that likely would have been the first of many. Instead, Sweden’s top forward line—featuring Viggo Björck at center with Ivar Stenberg and Lucas Raymond on the wings—will have an average age of 20 years old. Meanwhile, it will go up against Canada’s top line of Sidney Crosby, Macklin Celebrini, and Mark Scheifele, whose average age is 30 and which combines for 2,846 NHL points.

It does not sound like a fair matchup, but it might be the perfect setting for Stenberg and Björck to send a message. Who knows? Maybe it shakes up draft projections.