Canada looks to assert its dominance early in group play as it faces Latvia in a matchup that has historically been one-sided at the U18 level.
MORE: Connor McDavid sweeps NHL on TNT vote as playoff MVP favorite
This game is part of the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship, taking place in Slovakia, where 10 teams are competing in the top division from April 22 to May 2.
Canada enters with early tournament experience already under its belt, while Latvia is coming off a 2–1 loss to Slovakia in its opener, highlighting a tougher start to group play. On paper, Canada is once again among the tournament favorites given its depth, development pipeline, and strong recent international results at the U18 level.
– Live Stream 2026 IIHF U-18 World Championship with Fubo –
Historically, this matchup has heavily favored Canada. The Canadians have won every recent U18 meeting against Latvia, including multiple multi-goal victories such as 4–0 (2024) and 4–2 (2021), and carry a perfect record in head-to-head matchups over the past decade. Canada also enters in strong form, having won five straight games in last year’s U18 tournament, often by wide margins. Latvia, meanwhile, has struggled against top-tier nations, with several lopsided losses in recent U18 events.
Given the gap in depth and historical performance, Canada enters as a clear favorite, while Latvia will need a disciplined defensive effort and opportunistic scoring to keep the game competitive.
This is a great matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
Live stream Canada vs Latvia on Fubo: Start your subscription now!
With Fubo, you can watch live television without cable on your phone, TV, or tablet. Fubo carries a wide array of sports and entertainment channels, including local sports packages and top national channels like ABC, FOX, CBS, ESPN, FS1, MTV, Comedy Central, and much more. The best part is you can try it out today for free.
Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —