Canada will defend its gold medal against the United States on Sunday in the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Nova Scotia.
The Canadians advanced with a commanding 8-1 victory over Czechia on Saturday night, improving to a perfect 5-0 in Cape Breton. The United States secured its spot in the final with a 9-1 win over Sweden earlier in the day.
The championship game begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 18.
The 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Hockey Championships will air on the NHL Network and can be streamed live on fuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) and other live TV streaming services.
Sunday’s matchup marks the 24th meeting between the two hockey powers in U18 competition, with the Americans holding a 13-10 advantage in the all-time series. Canada won the most recent encounter, defeating the U.S. 3-0 in the 2025 gold medal game.
A Canadian victory would give the team its ninth gold medal in tournament history, matching the United States’ total.
Here’s what you need to know:
What: The 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships
Who: USA vs. Canada
When: 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026
Where: Centre 200, Sydney, Nova Scotia
TV: NHL Network
Where to watch the IIHF U18 Women’s World Hockey Championship and on demand for free
Viewers without cable can watch games live and on demand for free by signing up for the trial offer from DIRECTV or Fubo.
What are the differences between the streaming services?
DIRECTV – Watch live TV from major broadcast and popular cable networks. Enjoy local and national live sports, breaking news and must-see shows the moment they air. Included: unlimited cloud DVR storage space so you can record as many shows as you want and stream them from wherever you go. DTV starts as low as $19.99 per month after a 5-day free trial when you shop their customizable genre packs.

DIRECTV
5-day free trial

Enjoy local and national live sports, breaking news and must-see shows.
Fubo – Fubo offers one of the widest selections of channels among live TV streaming services. More than 220 channels, including all the sports and entertainment you love, plus sports add-ons for those niche networks you rely on, and it all starts with a 5-day free trial and $30 off the first month of service.

Fubo
5-day free trial

Stream sports with Fubo, and enjoy up to $30 off your first month.
Sling – One of the best deals in live TV streaming at just $45.99/month, offering customizable channel lineups for sports, news and entertainment. Now, Sling adds even more value with passes that let you stream live TV without a subscription: just $4.99 for a day, $9.99 for the weekend or $14.99 for a full week. These one-time payments are perfect if you just want to watch a single show, live game or special event. No commitment, no auto-renewal, just affordable access when you need it.