Ice hockey championship is not only a holiday for fans, but also a hot time for bettors. Each year, millions of viewers around the world follow the battle for gold, analyzing the odds of their national teams and calculating who will make it to the final. The year 2025 will be no exception: bets are being taken and the IIHF odds are becoming more and more intriguing. The question of whether anyone will be able to put up a fight against the grandees of world hockey is particularly interesting. This competition promises to be an arena of unexpected twists and turns.
2025 IIHF predictions
In the run-up to the tournament, all eyes are on the favorites. Bookmakers have already put up the initial odds for victory in the Ice Hockey World Championship, and the picture is quite interesting. Each of the strongest teams approaches the tournament with a different level of preparation and motivation.
Predictions for winner
The traditional ice hockey nations remain the favorites:
- Canada;
- Finland;
- Sweden;
- USA.
The Canadian team looks especially strong, demonstrating stability over the past few years. However, we cannot write off the Czech Republic and Switzerland, who have strengthened their roster with new NHL players. The USA, the reigning champions, approach the tournament with ambitions to repeat their success. Meanwhile, Sweden is preparing a whole host of young stars, while Finland traditionally relies on discipline and teamwork.
Group stage: who will advance?
Group A:
- Canada;
- Finland;
- Sweden;
- Slovakia;
- Latvia;
- Austria;
- Slovenia;
- France.
Group B:
- Czech Republic;
- Switzerland;
- USA;
- Germany;
- Denmark;
- Norway;
- Kazakhstan;
- Hungary.
The favorites to get out of the group are definitely Canada, Finland and Czech Republic in Group A, as well as the USA, Sweden and Germany in Group B. The main intrigue will be the matches between mid-level teams, where the fate of the playoffs will be decided. For example, Latvia and Slovakia have already proved many times that they can fight for the top-4 in their group. Poland, a newcomer at this level, is also interesting and could surprise.
Who can surprise?
Making a prediction of IIHF tournament, it is worth paying attention to Latvia – this team traditionally shows unexpected results, especially on home ice or in matches with stronger opponents. It is also worth considering the form of the German national team: with reinforcements from the NHL, it is capable of reaching the semifinals. Special attention should also be paid to Slovakia, a team that consistently shows progress at major tournaments.
IIHF World Championship betting odds 2025
Betting on ice hockey is always a balance between analytics and intuition. In 2025, bookmakers offer plenty of options that allow you to take a deep dive into the world of prediction. IIHF provides a huge field for analyzing and applying betting strategies.
The problem with betting on such tournaments has always been that there are many factors in hockey that can dramatically affect the outcome of a match. Expectedly, the tournament favorites will dominate in their groups, but this does not exclude surprises, especially at the playoff stage, where unexpected behavior of teams or individual mistakes can decide the outcome of the meeting. For example, a match between mid-tier national teams can change things dramatically, especially if it is played with an unexpectedly strong throw-in or a slow pace of play.
IIHF betting types:
- tournament winner;
- the outcome of a particular match;
- total goals;
- puck handicap;
- top scorer of the tournament;
- bets on group exit;
- bets on finalists and semi-finalists;
- comparison of the teams’ performance (for example, who is higher in the table).
Among the popular strategies, it is also worth noting “bets against the favorite”. In the early stages of the tournament, favorites may underestimate their opponents. If the team leads in the score and plays with a margin, you can bet on the underdog. This is especially relevant in group stage matches, where the difference in class can be leveled by the mood and physical condition.
Another technique is betting on individual successes of players, especially on snipers from medium-sized teams. Such hockey players often become the main stars of their national teams.
Don’t forget about live betting for a draw in regulation time, especially in matches of equal opponents. Teams are often cautious towards the end of the third period, especially if a draw suits both sides to qualify for the playoffs.
It is also important to compare odds at different bookmakers. Different platforms allow you to find the most favorable offers in real time. This can increase the overall profitability of the strategy.
Tips for betting on IIHF 2025:
- Study the form of the national teams at pre-tournament stages and friendlies.
- Keep an eye on the squads – losing key players has a big impact on odds.
- Goalkeeper play is a key factor. One strong goalkeeper can change the course of the tournament.
- Don’t bet on emotions. Logic and calculation are more important than fan sympathy.
- Pay attention to the statistics of face-offs – the history of hockey matches is often repeated.
Making a prediction for the results of tournament in the world of hockey 2025, it is important to remember that only a deep and comprehensive analysis, careful tracking of the form of teams and the dynamics of changes in the tournament will help you make a more accurate bet. The variety of teams participating in the tournament and possible surprises create a whole range of odds for bets. This is a tournament where familiar scenarios can be easily challenged and new stars can emerge on the ice hockey scene, which makes this event so attractive for bettors.
Let’s take a look at the latest winner odds for IIHF 2025
| National Team | Winning odds |
|---|---|
| Canada | 3.50 |
| Finland | 4.00 |
| Sweden | 5.00 |
| USA | 5.50 |
| Czech Republic | 8.00 |
| National Team | Winning odds |
|---|---|
| Germany | 12.00 |
| Switzerland | 15.00 |
| Latvia | 22.00 |
| Slovakia | 30.00 |
| Others | 40.00+ |
The odds reflect not only the objective strength of the teams, but also public expectations.
2025 IIHF World Championships Details
The 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship promises to be unique in its unpredictability and exciting events. The tournament will bring together 16 of the world’s strongest national teams and the battle for medals will take place in two countries – Sweden and Denmark. This distribution of arenas adds color to the tournament and creates additional variables for betting analysis.
The main favorites, such as Canada, USA, Finland and Sweden, bear the bright seals of stability and strength. These national teams, as in years past, will compete for the tournament’s top honors. Outside of the usual grands, however, we see a growing number of teams ready to surprise. The Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany, as well as Latvia and Slovakia – each of these teams has repeatedly shown their ability to break the boundaries of expectations and perform on par with stronger opponents.
Tournament format:
- 2 groups of 8 teams;
- everyone plays everyone in the group – 7 matches each;
- following the results of the group stage, the top 4 teams advance to the quarterfinals;
- play-offs include: quarterfinals, semifinals, third place match and final;
- points are awarded according to the standard system: 3 – for victory in regulation time, 2 – for victory in overtime or shootout, 1 – for defeat in extra time.
Where will the 2025 IIHF World Championship be held?
- host cities: Stockholm (Sweden) and Aarhus (Denmark);
- arenas: Avicii Arena (former Ericsson Globe), a legendary venue in Stockholm with a capacity of more than 13,000 spectators, and Jyske Bank Boxen, a modern arena in Aarhus characterized by comfort and good acoustics.
Group A and B games will be played in parallel in different countries, which creates additional challenges for teams: different travel, different climate, logistics and adaptation to local time. All this is important to take into account when making bets and prediction on the IIHF championship.
Group composition for 2025
Group A (Stockholm):
- Canada;
- Finland;
- Switzerland;
- Czech Republic;
- Norway;
- Austria;
- Great Britain;
- Slovenia.
Group B (Aarhus):
- USA;
- Sweden;
- Germany;
- Latvia;
- France;
- Kazakhstan;
- Slovakia;
- Poland.
As you can see, the groups are evenly distributed in terms of strength, but there is a particularly high level of competition for the 3–4th place in Group B, which makes each match important for prediction and betting.
At the same time, it is important not to forget that competition in hockey is getting tougher every year. Teams, previously not among the favorites, are now becoming more experienced and show excellent results at big tournaments. This, in turn, increases the importance of betting on unexpected outcomes and those teams that may have been underrated in the past. Therefore, despite the traditional favorites, it pays to keep a close eye on team lineups and new players that could have an impact on the outcome of the tournament.
Let’s take a look at some basic information about the tournament:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Dates | May 2025 |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Format | Group Stage + Playoffs |
| Host countries | Sweden and Denmark |
| Arenas | Avicii Arena, Jyske Bank Boxen |
| Tournament name | Ice Hockey World Championship 2025 |
Additional nuances – such as the need for players to adapt to different arenas and conditions – become important elements to analyze. This is especially relevant for live betting, where such details can play a decisive role.
Ice Hockey World Championships History
The history of the IIHF Ice Hockey World tournament is a series of dramatic matches, high-profile sensations and the formation of ice hockey dynasties. Each tournament leaves a trace in the memory of fans and bettors: some remember spectacular hat-tricks, others – unexpected departures of favorites. Understanding history is not just a tribute to the past, but also an important tool for predicting the outcomes of IIHF 2025.
What happened in 2024
The tournament that took place in 2024 turned out to be one of the most exciting in the last decade. It kept the tournament in suspense until the final whistle. Finland created a sensation in the semifinals by knocking out Canada, but lost to the USA in the final – the latter became tournament world champions again for the first time since the 1960s.
IIHF 2024 final ranking:
- USA – gold;
- Finland – silver;
- Canada – bronze.
This success of the Americans was a real triumph: they won all matches, including the group stage – a rare case in the history of the tournament.
What were the winner of the last years visually:
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 | USA |
| 2023 | Canada |
| 2022 | Finland |
| 2021 | Canada |
As you can see, recent years have been played under the sign of equality – no team dominates for too long. This increases interest in the underdogs and adds especially good odds on the bets.
Interesting facts and records:
- IHWC 2024 was the most prolific in terms of average goals per game in the last 10 years;
- Czech Republic reached the semifinals for the first time since 2009, showing great work with the youth;
- Poland played in the final stage for the first time since 2002, a milestone for Eastern European hockey;
- The final between the USA and Finland in 2024 broke TV viewing records in North America – it was the most watched IHWC match in the continent’s history;
- Team USA is the only team to finish the 2024 tournament without a single loss.
World Championship Legends
The IHWC World Championship is as much about the titles as it is about the legends that were born in front of millions of spectators. Players like Sidney Crosby, Teemu Selanne, Jaromir Jagr and Alexander Ovechkin have become symbols of their country at this tournament.
Such was the case in 2008, when the Canadian team lost the final on home ice in Quebec. The winning puck in overtime was the catalyst for dozens of headlines around the world. Or think back to 2011 – Finland crushed Sweden 6-1 in the final, taking gold. Pekka Rinne stood as a wall, and Suomi’s offensive line literally crushed their opponents. It wasn’t just effective hockey – it was a manifesto of the new Finnish era.
Finns in general have proven time and time again that big names are not the most important thing. In 2019, they proved it again, beating Canada in the final 3-1 and taking gold, despite the fact that there were no real NHL stars in the lineup. The leader was 18-year-old Kapo Kakko, and coach Jallonen assembled a team where every detail worked like a Swiss watch.
Germany was writing its own chapter, too – in 2011, it beat Russia for the first time at the World Championships. A dry 2-0 win in Bratislava showed that anything can happen in hockey if the team believes and fights to the last. And there were breakthroughs in women’s hockey: in 2019, Finland reached the finals for the first time, knocking out Canada in the semifinals. It was a historic step for the women’s national team, which had previously always been overshadowed by the two grands, the U.S. and Canada.
Moments like this are becoming an important part of ice hockey culture and give bettors reason to believe in the unpredictability of the tournament – every team can have a shot.