- Team USA has +125 odds to beat Switzerland in the first game of the 2026 IIHF Championship.
- The USA defeated Switzerland in the 2025 gold medal game and has +1100 odds to repeat as champions.
- Matthew Tkachuk has -250 odds to record a point and +220 odds to score a goal for Team USA vs. Switzerland.
Zurich – The 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship is underway, and NHL sportsbooks have odds for every matchup, the winner of each group, goal scorer props, and much more. The event is being hosted in Switzerland.
The United States will open the tournament as underdogs against Switzerland this afternoon. This is a gold medal game rematch from the 2025 IIHF Championship, where the USA came out on top in OT 1-0.
| Switzerland | USA |
|---|---|
| -1.5 (+170) | +1.5 (-210) |
| -150 | +125 |
| O5.5 (+110) | U5.5 (-130) |
The USA has a 17-1-1-8-1 record against Switzerland in IIHF play and has won four of the last five meetings between the two teams.
While Justin Faulk of the Detroit Red Wings is the captain of Team USA, Matthew Tkachuk is a great player to bet on to score or get an assist in the first game of the tournament. Tkachuk finished the 2026 Winter Olympics with six assists and recorded 34 points in 31 NHL regular-season games this season.
- Matthew Tkachuk Anytime Goal Scorer +220
- Matthew Tkachuk Over 0.5 Points -250
- Matthew Tkachuk Over 0.5 Assists -130
Who Is Favored To Win The 2026 IIHF Championship?
Canada opened as the favorite for the 2026 IIHF Championship and has won gold twice since 2021. The USA is in the middle of the pack of odds boards at legal sports betting sites for the tournament after winning gold last year for the first time since 1960.
- Canada -106
- Finland +450
- Switzerland +700
- Sweden +900
- USA +1100
- Czech Republic +1700
- Germany +5000
- Slovakia +7500
- Denmark +15000
- Latvia +17500
- Austria +30000
- Norway +50000
- Slovenia +100000
- Great Britain +150000
- Hungary +150000
- Italy +150000
Expect the USA to jump to the top as one of the favorites if they beat Switzerland in the first game of the tournament.
