Best Ways to Watch the IIHF 2025 World Junior Championships
The 2025 edition of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship is set to take place between December 26th, 2024, and January 5th, 2025. Not only does this provide us with some entertaining, post-Christmas hockey action to enjoy, but it also provides a platform for the sport’s most exciting young stars to show off their talents on the international stage. This year's host, Canada, will welcome the world’s best under-20 national teams, including the host nation Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, and more.
For these youngsters, this competition provides the perfect platform to showcase what they can do and make a name for themselves, because you can be sure that some of the NHL's best scouts will be watching. That's also a reason for us hockey fans to make sure we are getting in on the fun, and, in this guide, we will ensure that you have all the information you need to catch all the action. From game schedules to streaming options, Live Sports on TV is your go-to source of up-to-date information on how to watch the IIHF World Juniors 2025. So, let's get stuck in.
Key information about the 2025 World Junior Championships
- Dates: December 26, 2024 – January 5, 2025
- Location: Ottawa, Canada
- Defending champions: United States
- Number of Teams: 10
- Where to Watch: Live games will be broadcast on TSN (Canada), NHL Network (USA), and other international broadcasters.
- Your Guide for Game Times: Visit our website for up-to-date schedules and streaming details.
- Official website: Visit their website by clicking here
How to watch the World Juniors
The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, taking place in Ottawa, Canada, is a standout event in the junior ice hockey circuit, showcasing the future stars of the NHL. For die-hard hockey fans, this is a fun-fueled part of the festive season, and Live Sports on TV should be your go-to platform for up-to-date schedules and broadcasting information during the tournament.
In the United States, games will be shown on the NHL Network, which, as you likely already know, is the go-to channel for anyone who likes hockey. In addition to broadcasting the WJC, the NHL Network also broadcasts live NHL games, and offers up access to a huge library of hockey-based documentaries and other popular hockey programming.
In Canada, fans will need TSN for coverage of the tournament, taking you all the way from the Preliminary Rounds to the Gold Cup Game.
How to Watch the 2025 World Junior Championships on Cable
If you are on a cable plan, then you may already be in luck. NHL Network is carried by many of the major cable providers, including some of our favorites:
- Cox - $61.00–$152.00/mo.
- DirecTV - $69.99–$159.99/mo
- Dish - $84.99-$114.99/mo
- Verizon Fios - $69.00–$129.00/mo.
Each of the above will give you access to the full World Junior Championship tournament, along with all the other benefits of the NHL Network. Users will also be able to enjoy the huge portfolio of channels that each provider offers, including lots of entertainment, movies, news, and other sports channels. The only downside to cable packages is that they tend to come with long contracts, but if you can handle that, this is a great way to massively upgrade your home viewing experience.
Where to Stream the IIHF World Juniors 2025
If you prefer to stick to the more flexible streaming options, then all of the providers listed below will work well for you. These offer slightly smaller channel portfolios, but come with more flexible contracts, and, most importantly, NHL Network.
- fuboTV: $79.99/mo
- DirecTV Stream: $79.99/mo
- SlingTV: $55/mo
- ESPN+: $11.99/mo
The biggest names missing from this list are Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV, which do not include NHL Network.
How to Tune in for Free
Thankfully, due to the IIHF World Juniors only lasting a couple of weeks, you should be able to utilize free trials provided by some of the streaming options detailed above to get free access throughout the tournament. Some providers offer 7-day free trials, but these do change from time to time, so it’s something to keep an eye on, particularly considering companies may be getting more generous over the festive period.
Please note, however, that it is very important to remember to cancel your trial before the end of it so that you don't end up getting charged.
2025 World Junior Championships Breakdown
The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship is an annual international ice hockey tournament featuring the best under-20 national teams in the world. If you are a keen fan of the National Hockey League (NHL) this is a great tournament to keep an eye on, because you know that many future NHL stars will be on display, battling it out for the chance to celebrate international glory.
Where is this Year’s Tournament Taking Place?
The 2025 edition of this prestigious tournament will take place in Ottawa, a city that is very much known for its hockey heritage. The city hosts the Ottawa Senators, who are considered one of the greatest teams of the earliest days of the sport, winning a whopping 11 Stanley Cups between 1903 and 1927. As a result, the local fans are among the best in the world, which should come as no surprise, considering they benefit from state-of-the-art facilities. These include the Canadian Tire Centre and TD Place, which will be hosting fixtures throughout the tournament.
What Teams are Competing in the Championship?
This year’s tournament will feature the 10 best under-20 national teams from around the globe, split into these two groups:
- Group A: Canada, United States, Finland, Germany, and Latvia
- Group B: Czechia, Switzerland, Sweden, Kazakhstan, and Slovakia
What is the Format of the 2025 World Junior Championship?
The tournament will be kickstarted by the Preliminary Round, which will see each team play against the rest of the competing nations assigned to their group. The top four teams from each group will then advance to the Playoff Round, where they will face teams from the other table for the first time.
In the Playoff Round, the best-placed team will play the worst-placed team from the opposite group, and vice-versa. For example, if Canada comes second in Group A, they will play the third-placed team from Group B. The Semi-Finals will then match up the highest-placed semi-finalist against the lowest-placed semi-finalist, with the winners of each game facing off in the Gold Medal Game. For the losers of the Semifinals, a date in the Bronze Medal Game awaits.
Now, you might be wondering what happens to the two teams that came last in each table. As there is no room for them in the Playoff Round, they will face off in one Relegation Round game, with a spot at the 2026 World Junior Championship on the line. The loser of this game will be relegated to Division I Group A, where they will have to fight to earn their spot in the main tournament back next year.
WJC games utilize a three-point system, offering up three points for the winner, two for an overtime or shootout win, one point for an overtime or shootout loss, and 0 points for a regular time loss. Tie-breakers will be determined by head-to-head results, goal difference, and total goals scored.
Do Team USA or Canada Have a Chance of Winning Gold?
Team USA enters as the defending champions, having won the 2024 tournament in Sweden. In fact, either the United States or Canada have won each of the last five tournaments, dating back to 2020, with Finland being the only other team to get in on the action since 2013. Both teams stand clear as the teams to beat, but they will face tough competition, as usual, from the other nations that are desperate to provide an upset.
IIHF World Juniors 2025 Schedule
- Preliminary Rounds: 26th - 31st December, 2024
- Relegation Round: 2nd January, 2025
- Quarterfinals: 2nd January, 2025
- Semifinals: 4th January, 2025
- Bronze Medal Game: 5th January, 2025
- Gold Medal Game: 5th January, 2025
Visit our website for up-to-date information on the World Juniors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Is The 2025 World Junior Championship?
The tournament will be hosted in Ottawa, Canada.
When Is The World Junior Championship?
December 26th, 2024, to January 5, 2025.
What Channel Is The World Junior Hockey Championship On?
Fans in Canada will need TSN, and, in the US, they will need NHL Network.
Who Won The World Junior Hockey Championship Last Time?
Team USA won the 2024 championship, defeating Sweden.
When Was The First World Junior Hockey Championship?
The first official tournament was held in 1977.
Who Has Won The Most World Junior Hockey Championships?
Canada leads with 20 gold medals.