Who will USA play next in hockey? Explaining 2026 Olympic bracket opponent for quarterfinals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Team USA is onto the knockout stages. After a perfect run through Group C, the Americans have officially secured their spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. By finishing as the No. 2 overall seed, just behind Canada, the U.S. has earned a critical first-round bye, allowing them to bypass the qualification playoffs and head straight into the final eight.
The preliminary round finale was a statement victory as Team USA dismantled Germany with a 5-1 win on Sunday. Captain Auston Matthews silenced early-tournament critics by exploding for two goals and an assist, leading an offensive onslaught that saw the Americans control the pace from the opening puck drop. Behind him, the physical presence of the Tkachuk brothers and a 23-save performance from goaltender Connor Hellebuyck proved that this roster is as balanced as it is star-studded.
While the U.S. enjoyed a smooth path through the group stage -- outscoring opponents 16-5 over three games -- the competition is about to intensify. With the NHL back on the Olympic stage, the margin for error has vanished, and the Americans know that one off-night on Wednesday could end their quest for the first men's gold medal since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice."
The road to the podium is clearly defined but fraught with peril. If the seeds hold, a potential collision course with arch-rival Canada looms in the gold medal game, a matchup that hockey fans have been salivating over since the NHL's participation was confirmed. For a program that has endured heartbreaking early exits in recent Games, Milan represents more than just a tournament — it's a mission to inspire an entire generation.
Here's who Team USA plays next.
MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer's guide | Day-by-day schedule
Olympic hockey bracket 2026
The men's preliminary round has concluded in Milan, and the bracket is now set for the knockout stages. Canada, the United States, Slovakia, and Finland have secured the top four seeds and will receive a bye directly to the quarterfinals.
The remaining eight teams will compete in a qualification playoff on Tuesday to determine who fills the final four spots in the quest for gold.
The following teams have earned a direct path to the quarterfinals on Wednesday:
Canada (Group A Winner)
United States (Group C Winner)
Slovakia (Group B Winner)
Finland (Best Second-Place Team)
Then, there's the qualification playoffs, which occur the day before.
| Matchup | Time (ET) |
| (6) Germany vs. (11) France | 6:10 a.m. |
| (5) Switzerland vs. (12) Italy | 6:10 a.m. |
| (8) Czechia vs. (9) Denmark | 10:40 a.m. |
| (7) Sweden vs. (10) Latvia | 3:10 p.m. |
MORE: Day-by-day TV, streaming schedule for 2026 Winter Olympics
Who will USA play next in hockey?
The U.S. will play the winner of Latvia vs. Sweden.
After sweeping their preliminary group with a 3-0-0-0 record, the American men earned a direct bye to the quarterfinals and now wait to see which of those two teams survives Tuesday’s qualification playoff.
They must wait for the result of the Tuesday qualification playoff between Sweden and Latvia to know their official opponent for the final eight.
MORE: Updated medal count at 2026 Olympics
How does the Olympic hockey bracket work?
The 2026 Olympic men's hockey bracket consists of 12 teams divided into three groups of four for an initial round-robin stage.
The three group winners and the second-place team with the best record earn an automatic bye into the quarterfinals, while the remaining eight teams are seeded 5th through 12th for a qualification playoff. The winners of those single-elimination play-in games advance to face the top seeds in the quarterfinals.
Following the quarterfinal round, the four remaining teams are re-seeded, ensuring the highest-ranked team plays the lowest-ranked team in the semifinals to determine who will compete for the gold and bronze medals.
MORE: USA men's hockey schedule
Olympic hockey schedule 2026
Feb. 17: Men's Qualification Playoffs
| Game | Time (ET) | Arena |
| (6) Germany vs. (11) France | 6:10 a.m. | Santagiulia Arena |
| (5) Switzerland vs. (12) Italy | 6:10 a.m. | RHO Arena |
| (8) Czechia vs. (9) Denmark | 10:40 a.m. | Santagiulia Arena |
| (7) Sweden vs. (10) Latvia | 3:10 p.m. | Santagiulia Arena |
Feb. 18: Men's Quarterfinals
| Game | Time (ET) | Arena |
| (3) Slovakia vs. Germany/France winner | 6:10 a.m. | Santagiulia Arena |
| (1) Canada vs. Czechia/Denmark winner | 10:40 a.m. | Santagiulia Arena |
| (4) Finland vs. Switzerland/Italy winner | 12:10 p.m. | RHO Arena |
| (2) USA vs. Sweden/Latvia winner | 3:10 p.m. | Santagiulia Arena |
Feb. 19: Women's Medal Games
| Game | Time (ET) | Arena |
| Bronze Medal: Sweden vs. Switzerland | 8:40 a.m. | Santagiulia Arena |
| Gold Medal: USA vs. Canada | 1:10 p.m. | Santagiulia Arena |
Feb. 20: Men's Semifinals
| Game | Time (ET) | Arena |
| Semifinal 1 (TBD vs. TBD) | 10:40 a.m. | Santagiulia Arena |
| Semifinal 2 (TBD vs. TBD) | 3:10 p.m. | Santagiulia Arena |
Feb. 21: Men's Bronze Medal Game
| Game | Time (ET) | Arena |
| Bronze Medal Game (TBD vs. TBD) | 2:40 p.m. | Santagiulia Arena |
Feb. 22: Men's Gold Medal Game
| Game | Time (ET) | Arena |
| Gold Medal Game (TBD vs. TBD) | 8:10 a.m. | Santagiulia Arena |