2026 World Juniors playoff bracket – How does it work?

The 2026 World Juniors playoff bracket is here. The top 8 teams in two groups will qualify for the Four Quarterfinals games on Friday, January 2, two semifinals on Sunday, January 4, and gold medal game on Monday, January 5, 2026. The IIHF already disclosed the World Juniors groups, here we have broken down how the 2026 World Juniors Championship playoff bracket does works.

Gold Medal Game on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Xcel Energy Center and 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, United States.

How 2026 World U20 Championships playoff does work?

In each group, the top four winning teams according to their highest points will be able to play in the quarterfinals on Friday, January 2, 2026. No. one seed from Group A will play again against the No. 4 seed of Group B in Game 1, No. two seeds from Group A will play against the No. three seed of Group B in Game 2, No. three seeds from Group A will play against the No. two seeds of Group B in Game 3 and No. four seeds from Group A will play against the No. one seed of Group B in Game 4 in the 2026 World Juniors quarterfinal rounds.

The winner of Game 1 will play against the winner of Game 3 and the winner of Game 2 will play against the winner of Game 4 in the semifinals on Sunday, January 4, 2026. The losers of the semifinals will battle for the Bronze Medal Game on Sunday, January 5, 2026, and finally, the winner of the semifinals will meet in the 2026 World Junior championship for the gold medal game on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Xcel Energy Center and 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, United States.

2026 World Juniors playoff picture:

Group A

  1. (1A): TBD
  2. (2A): TBD
  3. (3A): TBD
  4. (4A): TBD
  5. (5A): TBD

Group B

  1. (1B): TBD
  2. (2B): TBD
  3. (3B): TBD
  4. (4B): TBD
  5. (5B): TBD

How Quarterfinals schedule work?

  • 1A vs 4B = TBD vs TBD
  • 2A vs 3B = TBD vs TBD
  • 1B vs 4A = TBD vs TBD
  • 2B vs 3A = TBD vs TBD

How do Semifinals work?

The top-ranked teams from Group A will play against the lowest-ranked team in Group B, and the top-ranked teams from Group B will play the lowest-ranked team in Group A.

  • (1A vs 4B) vs (2A vs 3B) = TBD vs TBD
  • 1B vs 4A vs (2B vs 3A) = TBD vs TBD

Gold Medal Game

  • 1A vs 2A = TBD vs TBD