USA hockey vs. Switzerland live updates: How to watch world championships
TL;DR
The USA hockey team defends its world championship title against Switzerland, the team it defeated for gold last year. The IIHF world championship runs from May 15-31, with live updates available.
Key points
- USA hockey team defends its title against Switzerland
- USA won last year's championship 1-0
- Tage Thompson scored the only goal in the final
- Only two players return from last year's gold medal team
- IIHF world championship runs from May 15-31
The United States will begin defense of its world championships title against the team that it beat to secure that gold medal.
Team USA defeated Switzerland 1-0 at last year's tournament in Sweden to secure its first world championships title since 1933. Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson scored the lone goal and Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman got the shutout, though neither of them are here this year.
There are only two returnees from the gold medal team, Mason Lohrei and Isaac Howard. Switzerland is the host country in 2026.
The IIHF world championship runs from May 15-31. Follow along as USA TODAY provides live updates on the USA-Switzerland opening game:
Players of Team United States pose for photographs during the medal ceremony following the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
The family of the late Johnny Gaudreau celebrate after the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
Brady Tkachuk (7) of the United States and Zach Werenski (8) of the United States hold the jersey of Johnny Gaudreau after defeating Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
Matthew Tkachuk of the United States celebrates while holding Noa Gaudreau, the daughter of the late Johnny Gaudreau after winning the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
(L-R) Jeremy Swayman #1, Jackson LaCombe #2, Brady Tkachuk #7 and Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States hold the shirt of late Johnny Gaudreau while participating in the national anthem during the medal ceremony following the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
Gold medallist Jaccob Slavin of United States celebrates with Johnny Edward Gaudreau, the son of the late John Gaudreau as Matthew Tkachuk of United States films during the victory ceremony.
Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk of United States hold up the jersey of the late John Gaudreau after United States win gold in overtime.
Guy Gaudreau walks in the stands after the United States won against Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
Gold medallist Zach Werenski of United States celebrates with Noa Harper Gaudreau the daughter of the late John Gaudreau during the victory ceremony.
US team members stand with the jersey number 13 of late US ice hockey player Johnny Gaudreau the medal ceremony after winning the men's gold medal ice hockey match between Canada and USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on Feb. 22, 2026. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew died in August 2024 after they were struck by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey.
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See Team USA honor late Johnny Gaudreau after gold-medal victory over Canada
Players of Team United States pose for photographs during the medal ceremony following the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
1 / 10
See Team USA honor late Johnny Gaudreau after gold-medal victory over Canada
Players of Team United States pose for photographs during the medal ceremony following the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
2 / 10
See Team USA honor late Johnny Gaudreau after gold-medal victory over Canada
The family of the late Johnny Gaudreau celebrate after the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
3 / 10
See Team USA honor late Johnny Gaudreau after gold-medal victory over Canada
Brady Tkachuk (7) of the United States and Zach Werenski (8) of the United States hold the jersey of Johnny Gaudreau after defeating Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
4 / 10
See Team USA honor late Johnny Gaudreau after gold-medal victory over Canada
Matthew Tkachuk of the United States celebrates while holding Noa Gaudreau, the daughter of the late Johnny Gaudreau after winning the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
5 / 10
See Team USA honor late Johnny Gaudreau after gold-medal victory over Canada
(L-R) Jeremy Swayman #1, Jackson LaCombe #2, Brady Tkachuk #7 and Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States hold the shirt of late Johnny Gaudreau while participating in the national anthem during the medal ceremony following the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
6 / 10
See Team USA honor late Johnny Gaudreau after gold-medal victory over Canada
Gold medallist Jaccob Slavin of United States celebrates with Johnny Edward Gaudreau, the son of the late John Gaudreau as Matthew Tkachuk of United States films during the victory ceremony.
7 / 10
See Team USA honor late Johnny Gaudreau after gold-medal victory over Canada
Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk of United States hold up the jersey of the late John Gaudreau after United States win gold in overtime.
8 / 10
See Team USA honor late Johnny Gaudreau after gold-medal victory over Canada
Guy Gaudreau walks in the stands after the United States won against Canada in the men's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
9 / 10
See Team USA honor late Johnny Gaudreau after gold-medal victory over Canada
Gold medallist Zach Werenski of United States celebrates with Noa Harper Gaudreau the daughter of the late John Gaudreau during the victory ceremony.
10 / 10
See Team USA honor late Johnny Gaudreau after gold-medal victory over Canada
US team members stand with the jersey number 13 of late US ice hockey player Johnny Gaudreau the medal ceremony after winning the men's gold medal ice hockey match between Canada and USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on Feb. 22, 2026. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew died in August 2024 after they were struck by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey.
USA vs Switzerland: How to watch, stream hockey world championships
- Date: Friday, May 15
- Time: 2 p.m. ET
- Location: Swiss Life Arena, Zurich, Switzerland
- TV: NHL Network
- Streaming: Fubo and certain tiers of Sling carry NHL Network.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World championships hockey live: Time, TV for USA vs. Switzerland
Q&A
How did the USA hockey team win the world championship last year?
The USA hockey team won the world championship by defeating Switzerland 1-0, with Tage Thompson scoring the only goal.
Who are the returning players from the USA's gold medal team?
The only two returnees from the gold medal-winning USA team are Mason Lohrei and Isaac Howard.
When does the IIHF world championship take place?
The IIHF world championship runs from May 15 to May 31.
Where is the 2026 IIHF world championship being held?
Switzerland is the host country for the IIHF world championship in 2026.
