Latvia pulled off a stunning 4‑2 victory over the United States in the opening game of the 2026 IIHF Men’s Ice Hockey World Championship, held in Zurich, Switzerland.
The Latvians struck first when Haralds Egle opened the scoring in the first period, but the Americans answered with a power‑play goal from Matthew Tkachuk that tied the game at 1‑1 midway through.
Deniss Smirnovs then delivered a clutch goal in the third period, giving Latvia a 2‑1 lead, and Sandis Vilmanis sealed the win with two empty‑net tallies in the final minutes.
The win placed Latvia ahead of the United States in Group A, with the U.S. now sitting fifth and facing a decisive double‑header against Hungary and Austria.
What Lies Ahead for the Americans?
The United States still has two group‑stage games remaining, first against Hungary and then against Austria. Both matches will be critical for salvaging a spot in the knockout round.
In Group B, Denmark continued its unbeaten run, blanking Slovenia 4‑0 for its first victory of the tournament, while other fixtures such as Switzerland versus Hungary, Austria against Germany, Czechia versus Slovakia, and Sweden taking on Norway promise further excitement.