Hungary vs Latvia: prediction, facts, betting tips and H2H – May 26, 2026
Hungary
Latvia
On Tuesday, May 26, we will witness the final group-stage clash of the 2026 IIHF World Championship as Hungary take on Latvia. The game gets underway at 12:20 CET, and here is my betting pick for this matchup.
Hungary vs Latvia: match preview
Hungary head into this contest with absolutely no motivation left to play for. The team have collected three points from six games and are already guaranteed to finish seventh. They trail sixth place by five points, while also holding a three-point cushion over the bottom side. Great Britain have already completed their campaign in the top division, meaning Hungary have officially secured their place among the elite for another year.
Latvia, meanwhile, remain firmly in the race for a playoff berth, and the situation is shaping up to be extremely dramatic. The team currently sit fifth in the standings with nine points from six games. They trail Austria, who also have nine points, only on tiebreakers. That means if the United States defeat Austria and Latvia handle business against Hungary, they will be right in contention for a playoff place. In fact, they would secure qualification outright, potentially even finishing third, as Germany sit on ten points and have already completed all of their matches. The key, however, is victory — and ideally in regulation time.
Match facts and H2H
- Hungary have secured their place in the elite division of the World Championship.
- Hungary have lost their last three matches.
- Latvia have won their previous two games and remain in the playoff race.
- In the most recent head-to-head meeting, Latvia crushed Hungary 9-0.
Prediction
Latvia simply have to win, and they will do everything possible to make that happen. I expect them to come out aggressively, push the pace, and generate plenty of scoring chances. My recommended bet is Latvia over 3.5 total goals.
