Norway advanced to the 2026 IIHF World Championship playoffs after defeating the Czech Republic in the sixth round (4:1). The Norwegian national hockey team has advanced to the knockout stage of a world championship for the first time in 14 years.
The 11th match day at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship began with the match between Norway and the Czech Republic. Norway and the Czech Republic were in a head-to-head battle for a place in the World Championship playoffs: both teams came into the match as contenders for an early exit to the next stage before the sixth round game.
Suspilne Sport is the official broadcaster of the 2026 World Ice Hockey Championship in Ukraine. Watch the matches live on the Suspilne Sport platforms and local Suspilne channels.
Norway took the lead early in the match, scoring two goals. The Czech Republic responded with a goal four minutes before the end of the first period, but they failed to score any more. The Scandinavian team, however, scored twice more in the third period to close out the game 4-1.
The result means that Norway has guaranteed itself a place in the tournament's playoffs – it will not finish lower than fourth place in Group B. The team has one match left against Denmark, which has already lost its chances of reaching the playoffs.
World Cup 2026: Group B standings
- Canada — 17 points (6 matches), 30:11 (goal difference)
- Norway — 13 (6), 21:11
- Czech Republic — 13 (6), 17:14
- Slovakia — 11 (6), 19:15
- Sweden — 9 (6), 23:14
- Denmark — 5 (6), 12:22
- Slovenia — 3 (6), 8:24
- Italy — 1 (6), 4:23
Norway has reached the World Cup playoffs for the first time in 14 years. The team last played at this stage in 2012, when they were defeated by Russia (2:5). Norway's best result at the World Cup was in 1951, when they took fourth place. Since then, the Norwegians' best result at the World Cup is sixth place in the 2011 tournament.