The gold medal final is the championship game of the IIHF World Championship 2026. It determines which national team will be crowned world champion.
The game is played between the two teams that win their semifinal matchups. After advancing through the group stage and knockout rounds, these two teams compete for the highest honor in international ice hockey.
The gold medal final follows official IIHF regulations. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, the game proceeds to overtime. In medal games, overtime is typically played in a sudden-death format, meaning the first team to score wins the championship. If necessary, a shootout is used to decide the winner.
The victorious team is awarded the gold medal and officially recognized as the IIHF World Champion for 2026. The losing team receives the silver medal and finishes second in the tournament standings.
Winning the gold medal is one of the most prestigious achievements in international ice hockey and contributes to a nation’s historical record, global ranking, and legacy within the sport.
