Norway vs Latvia: Who will reach the semi-finals of the Ice Hockey World Championship?
Norway
Latvia
In the quarter-finals of the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship, Norway will face Latvia in a clash scheduled for Thursday, May 28, with puck drop at 20:20 CET. Here is my betting pick for the game.
Norway vs Latvia: Match preview
We are set for a very evenly matched contest, as both teams arrive with relatively balanced rosters and realistic hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the 2026 World Championship.
Norway finished second in their group after collecting 15 points from seven games. The team suffered defeats in their opening match against Slovakia, 1-2, and later lost 6-5 to Canada in overtime. However, they won all of their remaining fixtures, including impressive victories over Sweden, 3-2, and the Czech Republic, 4-1. They secured a high finish in the group and enter the playoffs as the fourth-best team among the eight quarter-finalists.
Latvia have been producing solid hockey in recent years, and their place in the playoffs is fully deserved, especially after finishing third in the group. The team lost three of their opening four matches, but then found their rhythm and closed out the stage with three consecutive victories. Most notably, they defeated the USA 4-2, a result that paved the way for a third-place finish. That run was followed by dominant wins over Great Britain and Hungary.
Norway do not have a single NHL player on their roster for this tournament. Stian Solberg, who was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks, is present, but he has yet to make an appearance for the franchise. Latvia are also without NHL players at this World Championship, yet both national teams have delivered excellent performances so far.
Match facts and H2H
- Neither team has NHL players at this tournament.
- Norway and Latvia are both riding three-game winning streaks.
- Norway have scored at least three goals in each of their last six matches.
- Latvia defeated Norway 4-3 in the most recent meeting between the sides.
Prediction
We are about to witness a fantastic battle between two teams with a remarkable opportunity to reach the semi-finals. I expect an entertaining contest and recommend betting on over 4 total goals in this matchup.
