“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.

After a disappointing group-stage campaign that included a costly loss to Latvia, Team USA still has a path to the quarterfinals — but every point matters now. A regulation win would keep the Americans alive heading into the final stretch.

With Justin Faulk and Matthew Tkachuk once again serving as two of the leaders of the roster, the pressure is now fully on the United States in one of the most important games of their World Championship campaign.

What happens if USA beat Hungary today?

If Team USA defeat Hungary in regulation, the Americans the Americans will stay alive in the race for the quarterfinals and move up to eight points in Group A.

A regulation win would give the United States the maximum three points in the Group A standings and could move them back into the top four depending on results involving Germany, Latvia and Austria.

The United States entered the final stretch of the preliminary round under pressure after a costly 4-2 loss to Latvia earlier in the tournament. That defeat left the defending world champions with very little margin for error.

Hungary entered the game near the bottom of Group A with only three points through six games, making this a matchup the Americans are expected to win if they want to remain in control of their own qualification chances.

What happens if USA and Hungary tie today?

If USA and Hungary are tied after regulation, Team USA will still remain alive in the quarterfinal race because they would earn at least one point. Under IIHF rules, both teams receive a point once the game reaches overtime.

The overtime winner receives two points, while the loser still earns one point. If Team USA lose in overtime, they would remain mathematically alive because of the single point awarded for the extra-time defeat.

What happens if USA lose to Hungary today?

If Team USA lose to Hungary in regulation, the Americans will be eliminated from quarterfinal contention at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. A regulation loss would leave USA stuck on five points while Hungary would jump to six.

USA arrived in Switzerland as the defending world champions after winning gold at the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship, but inconsistent results during the preliminary round have already placed them in a difficult position.

2026 IIHF World Championship top table ahead of USA vs. Hungary

When asked about the timing of the announcement during the post-event press conference, Paul said White was an “insecure little boy.” Then, he said of White and the UFC, “The c*kehead is back! Nice. Cool. Doesn’t matter. Just shows how pressed they are.”

Paul and White have been beefing for a long time now. Paul didn’t like that White blocked his attempt to fight McGregor. Then, he came after White for fighter’s pay, and now he put an MMA event just to compete with the UFC.

Dana White killed two birds with one stone

White has beef with both Ngannou and Paul. Hence, by announcing the Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway fight during Ngannou’s walkout, he managed to anger both, Ngannou and Paul. Ngannou even responded to a question regarding that topic in an expletive manner.

White was a step ahead from both and managed to capture the spotlight both before the fight and on both press conferences. Chess not checkers by the UFC president against two of his modern rivals.

Why did White not do it on the main event?

While it’s just a theory, the fact is that many realize that Dana White didn’t do it amid the Ronda Rousey fight because they are still both really close friends. Hence, the theory states that White didn’t want to harm Rousey’s spotlight, but he was more than willing to do it vs. Ngannou.

“I’m gonna have some kids,” Rousey said soon after her victory. Meaning, she is retiring again after a triumphant return from a 10-year hiatus. The fact is she barely even broke a sweat, if she wanted to challenge someone, she would’ve done it.

This way, Rousey gets a dreamy sendoff, as opposed to the last time, where she went out on a two-fight skid where she got brutally KO’d in both fights against Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes.

Rousey looked as good as ever

Rousey made her name by being a vicious finisher that wasn’t paid by the hour. Her armbar is arguably the best of all time and her persona was bigger than life. That all showed in her fight vs Carano despite it lasting just 17 seconds. In fact, 12/13 victories by Rousey came in the first round.

However, Rousey is not looking forward to entering the octagon again. It seems like all she wanted was to get one last, fiery dance that she deemed worthy to close her career. Now, she is focusing on her family life.

MVP MMA do want Rousey again

Jake Paul and MVP co-owner Nakisa Bidarian spoke in the press conference after the Rousey fight. They said they were welcoming Ronda Rousey anytime, including pitching a rematch against Holly Holm, the one who dethroned Rousey back in the day with a devastating head kick KO.

The provocative message was delivered on X, where McGregor replied directly to Holloway’s official post announcing the high-stakes International Fight Week matchup. “I’m gonna son you, child. Again,” McGregor wrote, a direct reference to his unanimous decision victory over a young “Blessed” back in 2013.

This return marks a historic milestone for the Irishman, who has been sidelined from professional competition since suffering a traumatic leg injury in July 2021. By the time he makes the walk on July 11, McGregor will have spent exactly five years away from the UFC.

McGregor and Holloway stats

McGregor enters the cage with a professional record of 22-6, looking for his first victory since his 40-second demolition of Donald Cerrone in early 2020. Meanwhile, Holloway brings a seasoned record of 27-9 and has remained far more active, most recently coming off a competitive unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 in March 2026.

While McGregor holds the previous head-to-head win, many analysts give the edge to Holloway due to his consistent activity and his legendary “BMF” title win over Justin Gaethje last year. Holloway has proven he can thrive in higher weight classes, and his relentless cardio will be a massive test for a returning McGregor.

UFC 329 is being treated as a monumental event, serving as the centerpiece at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Whether McGregor can reclaim his former glory or Holloway settles the score, this welterweight clash is undoubtedly the most anticipated fight of the year.

Ngannou left the UFC in bad terms and the main dispute was actually money. Hence, he is a guy looking for huge paychecks, as seen in his boxing crossover affairs against Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. During those fights, it’s reported that Ngannou amassed over $30 million combined, according to Yahoo Sports and Sports Illustrated.

Per Ngannou, he had a pretty good guaranteed purse for his fights at the PFL, while negotiating a $2 million purse for his opponents. Hence, when the payout for his fight against Philipe Lins is disclosed, we could be looking at an eight-figure payout.

Ngannou is still a must-see heavyweight

Labeled by some as the Mike Tyson of MMA due to his power, everytime Ngannou steps into the cage, eyes are watching. The fight can end in the blink of an eye. Also, Lins weighed in 40 lbs lighter and has been knocked out four times in five defeats.

Lins is smaller, less powerful, and way more chinny than Ngannou. Ngannou also has the height and reach advantage. Hence, it should be a quick work for Ngannou against a 40-year-old Lins.

Ngannou usually leaves in bad terms

If this is a one-off, then it should be a great business move by Ngannou and MVP MMA. However, if it’s a prolongated deal, then trouble might be brewing. The UFC and Ngannou had a rough outing, then Ngannou and the PFL also ended unamicably.