The semifinal match of the 2026 World Junior Championship between Canada and Czechia will take place on January 5 at 3M Arena Mariucci in Minneapolis. Canada vs Czechia: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Canada
Canada, coached by Dale Hunter, defeated Slovakia 7:1 in their previous match. The team thus advanced to the semifinal, improving on last year’s result when Canada failed to progress beyond the quarterfinal. The squad finished the group stage in first place, going unbeaten and earning 11 points. The team won gold at the World Junior Championship in 2022 and 2023. In the following two tournaments they did not contest the medals.
- Canada failed to score more than six goals in regulation time in 9 of their last 13 World Junior Championship games.
- The team won the second period in 5 of their 6 previous matches at this tournament.
- Canada defeated the upcoming opponent in 9 of 12 head-to-head meetings at the World Junior Championship (1 in overtime).
Czechia
Czechia, coached by Patrik Augusta, defeated Switzerland 6:2 in their previous match. The team reached the next stage with that victory. Throughout the tournament the squad suffered only one defeat at the start, against Canada (5:7). Czechia finished the group stage in second place with eight points. The team has remained on the podium for several years running: third in 2024 and 2025, second in 2023, but they have not won gold since 2001.
- Czechia conceded at least two goals in regulation time in 10 of their last 12 World Junior Championship games.
- The team won 6 of their last 8 matches at the World Junior Championship (1 in overtime, 1 on penalties).
- Both teams scored in the first period in 6 of Czechia’s last 8 games at this tournament.
Canada vs Czechia: Match Prediction
The victory-starved Canada will compete for a podium place for the first time since 2023 and will most likely come out on top. Looking at the head-to-head statistics between the sides, Canada won in regulation time in 8 of the last 12 meetings. It is also worth noting that in the current tournament the squad coached by Patrik Augusta already suffered a defeat to Canada in the opening match. That was not an easy win for Canada, but the team found a way to emerge victorious.
The Czech team is at a disadvantage partly because it has not seen championship gold for a long time and consistently finishes second or third. This pattern is likely to repeat. We should also consider that Czechia will be forced to move to a new arena before the match with Canada, leaving them with less recovery time. That may play a nasty trick on the squad.
Prediction: Canada To Win
