Slovakia U20 vs USA U20: prediction & betting odds December 29, 2025

The meeting of Matchday 4 of the 2026 World Junior Championship between the Slovakia National Team and the United States National Team will take place on 29 december at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul. Slovakia vs United States: prediction, betting odds and statistics.

Slovakia National Team

The Slovakia National Team beat Germany 4:1 in the previous match. The most prolific player on the team was Tomas Hrenko, who scored a brace and provided an assist. The team finished only three shots ahead of the Germany national team, but their finishing was several times better than their opponents'. The defense blocked 14 shots, and goalkeeper Michal Pradel saved 35 shots. The team did not incur a single penalty minute in that game. Thanks to the victory the team climbed to third place in the standings with three points.

• The Slovakia National Team did not score more than 3 goals in regulation time in 7 of its previous 10 World Junior Championship matches.
• Slovakia lost 6 of its previous 9 tournament matches (2 in overtime).
• At least 5 goals were scored in 9 of Slovakia's previous 10 World Junior Championship matches.

United States National Team

The United States National Team defeated Switzerland 2:1 in the previous match. It was the side's second consecutive victory at the World Junior Championship. Will Zellers scored the Americans' important winning goal. The team expended a lot of energy, posting 22 missed shots, and failed to convert any of its power-play opportunities. Switzerland, despite not being the strongest opponent, gave the reigning champions a decent fight. Nevertheless, with six points the United States occupy the top spot in Group A.

Cole Hutson, who suffered an injury in the previous match, has returned to the squad. Nevertheless, his participation in the tournament remains in question.

• Over the past 10 years the United States have won in regulation time in 4 of 6 matches against Slovakia at the World Junior Championship.
• The United States have won 15 of their previous 16 tournament matches (4 in extra time).
• The United States scored at least 3 goals in regulation time in 4 of the last 6 head-to-head World Junior Championship matches.

Slovakia vs United States: Match Prediction

The Slovakia National Team, although underdogs compared to the United States National Team, are unlikely to lose by more than four goals.

Over the past 10 years there have been 6 meetings between the teams and only in 1 of them did Slovakia lose by more than four goals. Also note that Slovakia had not lost by such a margin in eight consecutive previous matches against other countries at the World Junior Championship.

The United States National Team, meanwhile, despite winning WJC gold for several seasons in a row, have not recorded wins with a margin of 4 goals or more in 7 of their last 8 official tournament matches, regardless of the opponent's strength.

Undoubtedly the United States are a serious opponent, but Slovakia has played in the top division of the World Junior Championship since 1995 and even won bronze in the tournament in 2015.

Prediction: Slovakia National Team (+4.5)