Sweden U20 vs Latvia U20: prediction & betting odds January 2, 2026

The U20 World Championship 2026 quarter-final match between Sweden and Latvia will take place on 2 January at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. Sweden vs Latvia: prediction, betting odds and statistics.

Sweden

Sweden finished top of Group A after the group stage. The team reached the playoffs with a perfect record, and the squad coached by Magnus Hevelid led the group in goals scored with 21. A significant contribution came from Jak Berglund, who became the side's top scorer (2+4). It should be added that the team showed an excellent power-play conversion rate – 50%. The squad has progressed beyond the quarter-final stage in five consecutive World Junior Championships, and in the previous tournament their quarter-final opponent was Latvia.

• No more than six goals were scored in regulation time in six of the team's previous eight World Junior Championship games.
• The team won in regulation in 9 of their last 11 matches in this tournament.
• The team conceded at least two goals in regulation in 8 of their previous 9 World Junior Championship games.

Latvia

Latvia finished fourth in their group, collecting 4 points as they did last year. The team managed to beat Denmark (6:3), and the squad coached by Artis Abols produced a major shock by taking a point off Canada in the opening round, although they lost to that opponent in overtime (1:2). Kristers Ansons was the team's top scorer (2+3). Latvia qualified for the quarter-finals for the third consecutive time, although the team has never managed to progress beyond this stage in its history.

• The team did not concede more than four goals in regulation in five of their previous seven World Junior Championship matches.
• The team did not lose the third period in 9 of their last 11 World Junior Championship games.
• Latvia did not score in the opening 20 minutes in seven of their previous nine games at the tournament.

Sweden Vs Latvia: Match Prediction

We are set for a repeat of the quarter-final from the last World Junior Championship. This time Sweden should progress, but we expect Latvia to do their utmost to make it difficult. Latvia showed well in the group stage: the team coached by Artis Abols forced overtime against one of the tournament favorites, performed creditably against the Czech Republic, and also recorded their first regulation-time victory in the last two World Junior Championships. Yes, the team suffered a collapse against Finland, but the Latvians will have a fighting mindset for the playoffs. It is worth adding that the team has not lost by more than a three-goal margin in six of their previous seven World Junior Championship matches.

Sweden were clear favorites in the previous head-to-head. A year ago the team built a three-goal lead but eventually allowed the opponent to pull back two goals. It is quite possible that the squad coached by Magnus Hevelid will again produce a strong start and then reduce intensity in order to conserve energy for the semi-final. The team were the highest scorers in their group, but more than a third of their goals came against Germany, who will face a relegation battle. That was the only convincing win for the team in their previous nine World Junior Championship matches. In the other games during that run Sweden won by a margin of no more than three goals.

Prediction: Latvia (+3.5)