U18 Hockey World Championship 2026: Czech Republic vs USA, Schedule, Live Stream & Key Players

The Czech Republic U18 national team is set to begin its campaign at the 2026 IIHF World U18 Championship on April 22 in Bratislava, facing the United States in a Group B matchup scheduled for 4:00 PM local time. The tournament, hosted jointly by Bratislava and Trenčín from April 22 to May 2, marks the 28th edition of the IIHF World U18 Championship. Ten teams are divided into two groups of five, with the top four from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. The Czechs are placed in Group B alongside Sweden, the United States, Germany, and Denmark, with all group-stage games taking place at the Vladimír Dzurilla Ice Stadium in Bratislava. Czech head coach has named Tomek as team captain for the tournament, though specific details about assistant captains were not disclosed in the available sources. The team aims to improve upon its performance from the previous year, when it was eliminated in the quarterfinals after a disappointing group-stage showing. Fans can follow the action live on Czech Television’s ČT Sport channel, which will broadcast the tournament throughout its duration. The opening game of the tournament features Germany versus Sweden at noon on April 22, followed by the Czech Republic’s debut against the United States later that afternoon. The championship serves as a key scouting event for NHL talent, with dozens of professional scouts expected to attend games in person to evaluate the next generation of hockey stars. Canada enters the tournament as the defending champion, having won the 2025 final against Sweden.