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

“It’s a for sure yes for me,” McLean answered a question on whether he’d accept an invite to Team USA for the next World Baseball Classic, via Anthony DiComo on X. That won’t be until 2030, though.

Although Team USA’s biggest weakness in the final against Venezuela was the lack of offensive production, McLean was self-critical after the World Baseball Classic loss. His teammates stood by his side, though, as Bryce Harper backed McLean after Team USA’s 3-2 loss at loanDepot park.

McLean’s numbers in WBC final

McLean was named the Stars and Stripes’ starter for the decisive game in Little Havana. The NY Mets’ starting pitcher was far from perfect against Venezuela national baseball team, but he wasn’t the sole reason for the American defeat, either. Still, he might be the easiest scapegoat for fans to blame.

Against Venezuela, McLean pitched 4.2 innings, allowing four hits, one walk, and two runs—including a solo home run. He finished the night with a 5.87 ERA and four strikeouts.

For contrast, during his rookie MLB season in 2025 McLean had never recorded an ERA above 2.06. Statistically, the WBC final against Venezuela was one of the worst games of his career.

McLean eyes 2030 WBC

There’s definitely lessons to be learned from the defeat, and the second-year ace will surely improve from this experience. McLean made it clear he won’t give up, and would gladly represent Team USA once again in the 2030 World Baseball Classic.

“I didn’t even think about it that way, to be honest with you” Crosby admitted, via The Athletic. “I was just happy that I scored the goal. I was happy that the puck was going to the Hall of Fame. I didn’t even think about it that way.”

Even if Crosby wanted his memorabilia back, though, it might be too late for him. The puck he scored past Ryan Miller in sudden-death overtime has been in Hockey’s Hall of Fame for over 15 years now. Hughes, on the other hand, is wasting no time. Team USA‘s overtime hero is making his pitch immediately after. Though it may be to no avail in the NHL.

Hockey Hall of Fame answers Hughes’ claim

“Unfortunately, in the easiest words, it was never Jack’s puck to own,” Hall of fame curator Phillip Pritchard told ESPN. “It’s been donated to us now.”

Just because Hughes scored the golden goal with that puck doesn’t mean it has now become his property. As Pritchard’s statement suggests, if Hughes wanted to keep the puck, he should have gone after it immediately after it went into Canada men’s national ice hockey team’s net.

Obviously, in the heat of the moment, that was the last thing on Hughes’ mind. Unfortunately for him, it might be too late now. The puck is now the property of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and there are no signs of that changing anytime soon.

“I could’ve executed a little bit better. But he’s a really good player (Wilyer Abreu) at the same time. I would love to go back and make a different pitch obviously,” he said via SNY.

In the top of the 5th inning with the score 1-0, and after a called strike, McLean tried to challenge Abreu with a 96 mph fastball right down the middle, but the Venezuelan outfielder crushed a monstrous 412-foot home run to dead center field.

Another elusive final for Team USA

Following their loss 3-2 to Venezuela, Team USA has now faced two consecutive WBC final defeats, adding to their 2023 loss against Japan.

Despite these recent setbacks, they remain proud of their lone championship title earned in 2017 after defeating Puerto Rico, a title they will aim to replicate in 2030.

McLean already focused on the Mets

Despite Carlos Mendoza picking Venezuela over USA, the Mets manager showed himself very proud that Nolan McLean was the starting pitcher for his nation.

In Queens, they are waiting with open arms for one of their top prospects. In his 2025 debut season, McLean posted a 5-1 record with a 2.06 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP across 8 starts.

In 48 innings, he struck out 57 batters (10.7 K/9), becoming the first pitcher in franchise history to win each of his first four career starts.

“I’m still pissed about this,” Judge admitted, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, reflecting the raw emotions inside the clubhouse as players grappled with the outcome and the end of their WBC run.

Despite their struggles, Team USA showed flashes of competitiveness, though they recorded just three hits against Venezuela’s pitching staff and went 14 innings without a runner in scoring position.

Judge reflects on Team USA’s WBC campaign

“We came here, all of us put on this uniform, signed up to go out there and get a gold medal, and we fell short of that,” Judge said, highlighting the team’s high expectations and commitment, a sentiment consistent with his earlier comments about how World Baseball Classic crowds top the World Series.

The postgame scene underscored the emotional toll, as players stood silently watching Venezuela celebrate its first WBC title while processing their own disappointment.

Emotional intensity and fan support

Judge also praised the fans’ energy, describing the atmosphere as electric from the first pitch to the last. Even with that excitement, the disappointment of the loss lingered, and Judge made it clear that the frustration inside the clubhouse remained long after the final out.

“Whenever you get down 2-0 it’s tough, but I thought Mac threw the ball great. He’s a special talent. He’s going to be a special talent for a long time. We’ve got a lot of great young guys in there that are going to play again on this team,” the Phillies star said.

Mark DeRosa’s squad came up just short in a 3–2 defeat against its opponent, narrowly missing the opportunity to secure a second title in the tournament.

McLean’s performance in the final

In the WBC 2026, Nolan McLean delivered a strong performance, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing only 2 runs on 4 hits.

He showed great control with 4 strikeouts and just one walk, leaving the game with the score tied before Venezuela eventually secured the victory.

For its part, Bryce Harper proved why he is the veteran leader of this squad, going 2-for-4. His most critical contribution came in the 6th inning when he launched a clutch solo home run to tie the game at 2-2, providing the emotional spark Team USA needed on the world’s biggest stage.

Team USA’s young talent

Led by rising stars like Nolan McLean and Roman Anthony, Team USA’s future looks incredibly bright. Alongside established young talents such as Bobby Witt Jr. and Paul Skenes, these players represent a new generation of versatile, high-velocity athletes ready to reclaim international dominance for the United States.

Looking ahead to what’s next

Looking ahead, Team USA faces two major challenges on the international stage. First is the highly anticipated return of baseball to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where they will compete for gold as the host nation.

Following that, focus shifts to the 2030 World Baseball Classic, as the tournament officially moves to a four-year cycle, cementing its status as the premier global showcase for the sport.

According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale on “X”, DeRosa believes players would be far more prepared under that format. “They would be more prepared and more dialed in, and we’d be dealing with way less restrictions and way less guidelines on the pitching if it was moved to midseason. No question about it,” DeRosa said.

The conversation gains even more weight following Venezuela’s dramatic 3–2 victory over Team USA in the WBC final, a result that showcased both the tournament’s intensity and the limitations players face under the current early-season structure — especially for several Team USA players who lost WBC finals in both 2023 and 2026.

Midseason format could elevate competition

One of the biggest challenges of the current WBC format is the strict pitching restrictions tied to Spring Training readiness. Pitch counts typically begin at 65 during pool play and only increase gradually as the tournament progresses.

A midseason shift would eliminate the need for that ramp-up period, allowing pitchers to perform at full strength in high-pressure matchups—potentially improving the overall quality of games like the recent championship clash.

MLB world remains divided on potential change

The proposal has gained traction among some figures in the baseball community. Former pitcher and analyst John Smoltz supported the idea, stating on the Dan Patrick Show: “I think you make it bigger when you do it in the middle of the season and shut it down for a week.”

Even with growing support, questions remain. Teams fighting for postseason spots may be wary of risking key players midyear, particularly with collective bargaining issues on the horizon. For now, DeRosa’s idea stays in the discussion phase — yet it keeps gaining relevance after another compelling World Baseball Classic.