Hockey fans in the State of Hockey are in for a thrilling holiday season as the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship comes to Minneapolis and Saint Paul for the first time in more than four decades later this year. The prestigious tournament, featuring the world’s top under-20 players—including future NHL stars—will bring electrifying international competition to 3M Arena at Mariucci and Xcel Energy Center from Dec. 26, 2025, to Jan. 5, 2026. With Team USA set to defend its back-to-back gold medals on home ice, hockey fans in Minnesota have a rare chance to witness hockey history in their own backyard. See below for more information from USA Hockey:

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The groups have been established for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship and fans can purchase Group A and Group B ticket packages, both which include medal-round tickets, beginning Saturday (March 8) at 10 a.m. CT by visiting 2026.worldjunior.hockey.

The iconic IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship showcases the best men’s ice hockey players in the world under 20 years of age competing for the gold medal. The tournament, which will feature the future stars of the NHL, will be held from Dec. 26, 2025 – Jan. 5, 2026, in the Twin Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Group A will include the United States, which enters the tournament as two-time defending gold medalist, along with Germany, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.

Group B will feature Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland and Latvia.

GROUP A TICKET PACKAGES (16 GAMES)
Fans receive tickets to all 10 preliminary round games in Group A, which will be played at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In addition, Group A packages include tickets to two quarterfinals, both semifinals, and the bronze and gold-medal games, all which will be played at Xcel Energy Center, totaling 16 games.

GROUP B TICKET PACKAGES (16 GAMES)
Group B ticket packages include the 10 preliminary round and two quarterfinal games being contested at 3M Arena at Mariucci on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis. In addition, all Group B packages include tickets to both semifinals and the bronze and gold-medal games at Xcel Energy Center, totaling 16 games.

A limit of eight (8) ticket packages will be allowed per order. All tickets are digital and transferable. Based on past demand, ticket packages are expected to sell quickly, so fans are encouraged to purchase early for the best availability.

Anyone who purchases a Group A or B ticket package will receive an opportunity to purchase discounted tickets for the relegation game to be played at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

Priority presale access will be available today (March 7) through 11:59 p.m. CT. Fans can sign up here to receive priority access. Fans who have already signed up for the World Juniors pre-sale access list do not need to re-register.

The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship will mark just the seventh time the U.S. has hosted the event. The first-ever U.S. host site was in Minneapolis/Saint Paul in 1982, followed by Anchorage, Alaska, in 1989; Boston in 1996; Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 2005; and Buffalo, New York, in both 2011 and 2018. The 2026 event marks the 50th anniversary of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

NOTES: The full schedule for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship will be announced at a later date … For information on suite availability or group tickets for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, email tickets@mnsportsandevents.org.

For more information contact Dave Fischer (DaveF@usahockey.org/719.538.1171)