The gold medal matchup that everyone in North America hoped for has come to fruition. Team USA and Canada are set to settle their intense rivalry with a gold medal on the line.

The two best teams in this Olympic field, the U.S. and Canada had to fight to get here. The Americans needed overtime to beat Sweden in the quarterfinals, and the Canadians required third-period comebacks to beat Czechia and Finland in the knockout rounds. With both squads now battle-tested, this gold medal game has all the ingredients for an all-time classic.

“I think this is a whole new experience,” Team USA coach Mike Sullivan said when asked about the rematch from last year’s 4 Nations Face Off. “When you look at the two games that were played in the 4 Nations tournament, they were pretty evenly played games on both sides. We came out on the right side on one and the wrong side on the other. So what I can tell you is that the American team is the best team I’ve ever been around.

“The group of players has a certain personality to them that is contagious with their energy and their resilience and their care for one another and how hard they play for each other. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

On paper, these are two evenly-matched teams, and the oddsmakers see it as a toss-up too. According to DraftKings, the Canadians are slight favorites at -125 with the Americans at +105 odds.

Team USA vs. Canada: Ranking the 10 best players in the gold medal game of the 2026 Winter Olympics

Austin Nivison

Before the puck drops on this highly anticipated clash of the hockey titans, we’ll take a deeper look at the matchup and make our pick for the gold medal winner.

Where to watch USA vs. Canada

Date: Sunday, Feb. 22 | Time: 8:10 a.m. ET
Location: Milano Santagiulia Arena — Milan, Italy
TV: NBC
Odds: Canada -125, USA +105

USA vs. Canada preview

The U.S. and Canada are two different teams with two very different strengths. The Canadians are built on an elite core of forwards with a lineup capable of scoring in bunches, and the Americans are built to prevent that very thing. Which philosophy will win out on Sunday?

Thus far, the Canadians scored their way out of trouble, and Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini are lethal together on the first line. Canada also brings Nathan MacKinnon, the leading scorer in the NHL, as its second-line center. The real wild card here is the health of Sidney Crosby. He missed the semifinal game with a lower-body injury, and if he can go, Crosby gives Canada incredible depth as the third-line center. If Crosby misses the game, that matchup gets more favorable for the U.S. with Nick Suzuki slotting in there.

Mitch Marner, Bo Horvat and Brandon Hagel bring playmaking and scoring on the wings. Marner was the hero in Canada’s overtime win over Czechia, pulling off a show-stopping move to win the game.

The Americans have a nice one-two punch down the middle as well, even if they don’t have the offensive ceilings of McDavid and MacKinnon. Jack Eichel and Auston Matthews are elite two-way players, and they’ve lived up to that billing in Milan. That duo has its work cut out for it in trying to contain their Canadian counterparts, but Eichel and Matthews are capable of doing it at their best. Larkin is a great third-line center for Team USA, and he’s been heating up over the last two games.

On the wings, the U.S. brings a balance of skill and sandpaper. Matthew and Brady Tkachuk embody that dynamic, blending physicality with finesse around the net. The most interesting winger for the Americans, however, is known more for his flash. Jack Hughes has made some brilliant plays at the Olympics, and he’s playing at a superstar level, which is good for the U.S.

“It’s been 46 years. So many players that have paved the way for us that haven’t had a chance to win gold for us, that for our dream to be right there,” Tkachuk said. “It’s something that we’re not taking lightly. And I mean, we have an opportunity to achieve a childhood dream.”

Defense is where the balance of power shifts to the U.S. Led by Quinn Hughes and Zach Werenski, the Americans are loaded on the blue line. Those two are excellent puck-movers who can be trust to contribute in all three zones, but the U.S. has plenty of versatility behind them. Jaccob Slavin is one of the best shutdown defenders in the NHL, and Brock Faber fits well beside him in a similar role. Charlie McAvoy is great in his own end — and he’s not afraid to lay the lumber — but he can also chip in on offense. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Jake Sanderson as an underrated star either.

The Canadian defense has more questions. They have the best defenseman in the world in Cale Makar, but the team’s decision not to take more players with offensive upside was exacerbated by Josh Morrissey’s injury early in the tournament. Drew Doughty and Travis Sanheim are fine in their own end, but they can’t be relied upon consistently in the offensive zone. The same could be said for Colton Parayko, who is there for more of a physical presence. Shea Theodore and Thomas Harley have some offensive chops, but the latter is having a poor season with the Dallas Stars.

In goal, we have a real conundrum. Connor Hellebuyck is arguably the best goalie in the world, but he has been known to shrink in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jordan Binnington is statistically the worst goalie in the NHL this season, but all he does is turn into Martin Brodeur on hockey’s biggest stages. The U.S. has the edge on paper, but history and experience tell us the goaltender position might be more of a wash.

USA vs. Canada prediction

The Americans have been tormented by the Canadians on the world stage for my entire lifetime. I’ve seen 2002 in Salt Lake City, 2010 in Vancouver, 2014 in Sochi and last year in the 4 Nations Face-Off. The U.S. hasn’t been able to slay this Red-and-White dragon in a game that really matters.

However, this is the best American team that’s ever been assembled, and it’s right there with the Canadians as the most talented squad in the world. Canada still holds an edge, but as Czechia and Finland have proved, it’s by no means immortal. Beyond that, Team USA was built with the idea in mind that it would have to slow down this Canada team. Were some of the roster decisions made in service of that mission highly questionable? Yes, but the Americans have a real identity.

If I were making this prediction five days ago, I may have gone a different direction. The Canadians looked unstoppable in the preliminary round, and the Americans didn’t always look like juggernauts. That said, the U.S.has developed chemistry over the course of this tournament, and it’s improved with each passing game. Meanwhile, Canada has struggled with inferior opponents in its last two matchups.

Perhaps it’s recency bias, but one team has looked better than the other over the last couple of games. The Americans seem to be hitting their stride just in time for this showdown with Canada, and I think they find a way to harass the Canadian defense and get to Jordan Binnington. Pick: USA 3, Canada 2 (OT)

So who wins the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s ice hockey final between USA and Canada, and what are the best bets for this matchup? Visit SportsLine now to see the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s ice hockey picks and best bets from a hockey insider, and find out.

Former Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez is on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United after falling out of favor at Al Hilal, while Julián Álvarez will priortize a move to Barcelona if he leaves Atlético Madrid.

Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

Transfers home page | Men’s winter grades | Women’s grades

TRENDING RUMORS

– Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are among the clubs interested in signing Al Hilal striker Darwin Núñez if the former Liverpool striker becomes available, as reported by TEAMtalk. The 26-year-old has been left out of the Saudi club’s league and cup squads due to strict foreign-player quotas following the arrival of Karim Benzema. Atlético Madrid and Juventus are also long-term admirers of the Uruguay international and would both be interested in a move if the opportunity arose and the finances were within their reach.

– If Julián Álvarez leaves Atlético this summer, the striker will priortize a move to Barcelona over Liverpool or Arsenal, says Football Insider. Sources have told ESPN that Arsenal are exploring the possibility of launching a summer move for Álvarez, as Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta negotiated the Argentina international’s €95 million transfer from Manchester City in August 2024. But it appears the player has other ideas over a future destination.

– Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund are all interested in Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Mateus Mané, according to TEAMtalk. They join a flurry of Premier League clubs looking at the 18-year-old as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Everton have all been keeping close tabs on his progress. Mane is happy with how his situation with Wolves has progressed in recent months and isn’t in a rush to leave the club, although the opportunity to join a top side could interest him, especially if his current side are relegated.

– Barcelona like Levante forward Karl Etta Eyong and are monitoring him, says Fabrizio Romano. They will face plenty of competition for the 22-year-old, with Fulham following his situation, while Levante received a late €30 million offer from CSKA Moscow in the last transfer window, which they were ready to accept until Etta Eyong stated that he didn’t want to move.

– Internazionale will trigger the option to make Man City defender Manuel Akanji‘s loan deal permanent for €15 million, according to Nicolo Schira. Inter have already agreed personal terms on a contract that will be worth €3.75 million-a-year and run until 2028, with the option for an extra year. Inter have an obligation to complete the deal if they win the league, yet they will sign the 27-year-old even if that isn’t triggered.

EXPERT TAKE

play

Are Man City more confident in title charge after win vs. Newcastle

Don Hutchison and Steve Nicol discuss Man City’s Premier League title aspirations after their win over Newcastle.

OTHER RUMORS

– Arsenal are in talks over an €80 million summer move for AC Milan winger Rafael Leao. (Football Transfers)

– Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are all particularly attentive regarding Eintracht Frankfurt left back Nathaniel Brown. (Caught Offside)

– Aston Villa plan on triggering their clause to make Douglas Luiz‘s loan from Juventus permanent for €25 million plus €3.5 million in add-ons. (Nicolo Schira)

– Atletico Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are among the clubs monitoring Lyon attacking midfielder Pavel Sulc at around €50 million. (Daily Mail)

– Liverpool could look to offload Cody Gakpo in the summer if they identify a top left-wing option. (Football Insider)

– Lois Openda is not part of Juventus’ plans for next season and the Serie A club will try to offload him in the summer. (Nicolo Schira)

– Newcastle United hold a concrete interest in Wolves left back Hugo Bueno, as they look for a player to provide cover and competition for Lewis Hall. (Football Insider)

– Liam Rosenior doesn’t want Chelsea to let Trevoh Chalobah leave amid Aston Villa’s interest in the center back. (Football Insider)

– Several German Bundesliga and Premier League clubs have shown an interest in Club Brugge striker Nicolo Tresoldi. (Nicolo Schira)

– Genoa have offered Caleb Ekuban a new contract that would run until 2028. (Nicolo Schira)

Michigan began Saturday at the top of the college basketball hierarchy, enshrined during the March Madness bracket preview as the No. 1 overall seed. By the end of the day, the picture looked a little different, as No. 3 Duke’s thrilling 68-63 win over the No. 1 Wolverines muddied up the race for the top spot in the NCAA Tournament bracket yet again.

No. 4 Arizona threw its name into the hat with a 73-66 win at No. 2 Houston while playing without star forward Koa Peat. The takeaway from those two top-five battles is that there are now three 25-2 teams from three different conferences with impeccable credentials heading into the final week of February.

In case you weren’t already convinced, it should be obvious by now that we are in the midst of an elite regular season and headed toward an equally great postseason.

Consequential results on Saturday weren’t confined to the nation’s most high-profile teams. No. 19 Vanderbilt landed as a No. 4 seed in the NCAA’s bracket preview and promptly suffered a home loss to Tennessee. No. 8 Kansas, which was a No. 3 seed, took a historic home loss to a mediocre Cincinnati team.

Down toward the bubble, results were arguably even more consequential.

Bracketology: 2026 NCAA Tournament committee faces challenges with Michigan, Houston, Florida in same region

David Cobb

Here is the full rundown of winners and losers from a massive day of college basketball action.

Winner: UCLA defeats Illinois with OT buzzer-beater 

UCLA worked ridiculously hard to storm back from a 23-point hole, and Donovan Dent made sure those efforts were not in vain. The jet-quick guard zoomed coast-to-coast for the game-winning layup as time expired to help UCLA beat No. 10 Illinois 95-94. Dent finished with 14 points and a whopping 15 dimes. The oft-invisible duo of Eric Dailey Jr. and Xavier Booker rose to the occasion with 36 enormous points.

It’s the third time that Illinois has lost in overtime during Big Ten play. — Isaac Trotter

Winner: Duke takes down No. 1 Michigan

Michigan’s guards finished a combined 6 of 25 from the floor as No. 1 Michigan lost to No. 3 Duke 68-63 as the Wolverines suffered their second loss of the season. If there is an Achilles’ heel for Michigan, it is the lack of an assassin in the backcourt. What was even more surprising, however, is that the towering Wolverines failed to match Duke down low. The Blue Devils were outscored 18-11 in second-chance points amid a 13-8 deficit on the offensive glass. Consequently, Duke outscored Michigan 34-24 in the paint with Cam Boozer leading the charge. 

The star freshman finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists while deftly playing the final 4:47 with four fouls. His versatility was on display as well with a clutch late 3-pointer that put the Blue Devils up 64-58  —  David Cobb

Winner: Arizona takes control of Big 12

No. 4 Arizona scored its most significant win of the season, taking down No. 2 Houston on the road 73-66. The two teams entered the day tied atop the Big 12, but the Wildcats, who played without star freshman Koa Peat, wrested control of the conference’s regular-season race in emphatic fashion. They led for nearly 37 minutes of game action and closed out the signature win by retaining the lead for the final 11 minutes.

With Peat injured, Arizona forward Ivan Kharchenkov played a season-high 39 minutes and added 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Wildcats guard Anthony Dell’Orso also chipped in in a big way, tying a season-high in scoring with 22 points.

The Wildcats hold a one-game lead now on Houston in the Big 12 standings with just four regular-season games remaining. They will likely be favored in each of the four games, and their toughest tests – vs. No. 8 Kansas next Saturday and at home vs. No. 6 Iowa State the following Monday – are both home games. — Kyle Boone

Loser: Kansas takes largest home loss under Bill Self

No. 8 Kansas suffered its largest home loss under Bill Self, who began coaching the Jayhawks in 2003 – and its first double-digit home loss vs. an unranked opponent since 1993 – in a stunning 84-68 defeat to Cincinnati on Saturday. The Jayhawks closed as 8.5-point favorites but played from behind for the final 17-plus minutes of the game as Cincy turned a close game into a blowout by out-scoring KU 48-34 in the second half. 

The good news for Kansas was that oft-injured guard Darryn Peterson played 32 minutes, tied for the third-most he’s played in a game this season. The bad news for Kansas is that his 17 points in that action were rendered moot because of an abysmal defensive showing. KU allowed 12 made 3-pointers from Cincinnati, tied for the most it has allowed in a regulation game this season, and also surrendered 84 points, tied for the fourth-most allowed in a game this season. 

“We were just awful today defensively,” KU coach Bill Self said. “Their bigs dominated. It was a combination of defensive rebounding, their guards getting where they want, and their bigs destroying us.”

Kansas has dropped two of its last three – both by 16 points – with tilts vs. No. 2 Houston and No. 4 Arizona upcoming over the next week. — Boone

Winner: AJ Dybantsa’s near-triple-double boosts BYU’s résumé

For the first time since 2020, BYU has defeated a top-six AP team. More than that, the Cougars needed 27 games to finally beat a top-25 KenPom school, but they got it done over Iowa State on Saturday night in the final big result of the evening. BYU’s 79-69 win was also just the second victory vs. a ranked team for the Cougars this season, but at least they’ve finally got some belief about making a good run in the NCAAs. And they have that belief because Dybantsa had a top-three game of his college career: 29 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists.

Cameron Boozer is still a comfortable frontrunner for National Player of the Year, but Dybantsa’s in his rearview mirror. Through six February games, Dybantsa’s averaging 30.7 points. The win improved BYU to 20-7. No Richie Saunders (ACL) means this team has its limits, but Dybantsa will certainly look to push them in every game that remains in his one-and-done career.

BYU is 6-6 in Quad 1 and needs to avoid a slip-up at home on Tuesday vs. UCF in order to make a push toward a No. 5 seed in three weeks. — Matt Norlander

Winner: St. John’s inches closer to Big East title

Rick Pitino and his St. John’s Red Storm scored their 13th consecutive win Saturday in resounding fashion, dominating Creighton 81-52 and inching closer to their second consecutive Big East title. The win comes just days after fellow conference contender UConn fell at home to the same Bluejays 91-84 in a stunning outcome that has shaken up the Big East race. It leaves St. John’s one game up in the league’s regular-season standings with UConn set to face Villanova later Saturday night. — Boone

Winner: Virginia honors Tony Bennett, beats Miami

Virginia honored former national-title winning coach Tony Bennett by dedicating the court at John Paul Jones Arena in his honor before the game. The No. 14 Cavaliers then followed through by honoring Bennett with a thrilling 86-83 win over a quality Miami team. It wasn’t a vintage defensive effort from the Cavaliers, but they made up for it with six players reaching double figures during a 12-of-24 shooting effort from beyond the arc. Jacari White led the way with 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. — Cobb

Loser: Vanderbilt loses another heartbreaker

No. 19 Vanderbilt began the day with good news, as star guard Duke Miles returned from a six-game injury absence. Just before tip-off against rival Tennessee, the Commodores were also included in the March Madness bracket preview as a No. 4 seed. But by mid-afternoon, the good vibes had dissipated in a 69-65 loss to the Volunteers. It was only the latest close loss for Vandy, which has dropped three of its past five contests by a combined margin of six points. At 21-6 and 8-6 in the SEC, Vanderbilt is still in the midst of a fantastic campaign, but the “what if” moments are starting to add up.  — Cobb

Winner: Texas Tech dominates without JT Toppin

Playing in its first game without the services of All-American forward JT Toppin, who suffered a torn ACL during the team’s road loss Tuesday to Arizona State, No. 13 Texas Tech bounced back with a resounding 100-72 win at home over Kansas State. It’s the third-highest scoring game of the season for the Red Raiders’ prolific offense, which on Saturday was led by Donovan Atwell (26 points) and Christian Anderson (21 points).  — Boone

Loser: Ole Miss plays as SEC punching bag (again)

An increasingly lost season at Ole Miss took another ugly turn Saturday as it suffered its largest loss of the season 94-75 to SEC-leading Florida. The loss is the Rebels’ ninth consecutive stumble in SEC play to drop to 3-11 in conference action after starting 3-2.  — Boone

Winner: Sandfort’s career day lifts Nebraska past Penn State

No. 9 Nebraska made quick and easy work of Penn State in Pinnacle Bank Arena thanks to a career-high in scoring from guard Pryce Sandfort, who had 33 points in 35 minutes of play. It’s Sandfort’s second career 30+ point scoring outing of his career but second this season. He did his damage primarily from deep, as he is wont to do, finishing with eight made 3-pointers on 14 attempts. 

The win gave Nebraska its 23rd win of the season – tying for its second-most in a single-season in program history. 
— Boone

Loser: USC’s loss to Oregon costly to Trojans

USC leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara returned from a three-game absence due to a knee strain, but the Trojans suffered a devastating 71-70 home loss to Oregon anyway. The Trojans led by six with 1:10 remaining before a stunning late collapse that could haunt them on Selection Sunday. USC entered the day as a No. 10 seed in CBS Sports Bracketology, but a drop is likely in store after an inexplicable stumble against a Ducks squad that is just 10-17 (3-13 Big Ten).  — Cobb

Winner: Georgia trending up after beating Texas

Georgia entered the day as the last No. 9 seed in CBS Sports Bracketology, which isn’t a safe place to be this time of year. But the Bulldogs capped off a huge week by beating Texas 91-80. With a Tuesday victory at Kentucky also in hand, UGA (19-8, 7-7 SEC) is once again trending toward making back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since 2001 and 2002. There is work still to be done, but Mike White’s club has rediscovered itself after losing five of six games in league play over the end of January and beginning of February.  — Cobb

Loser: Clemson is cratering after loss to FSU

This Clemson team is starting to resemble the 2023 team that started 18-4 before falling apart and missing the NCAA Tournament. After suffering a 70-65 home loss against Florida State, the Tigers have dropped four straight and are sitting at 20-8 (10-5 ACC) with games against Louisville and North Carolina up next. Clemson entered the day as a No. 8 seed in CBS Sports Bracketology, but its margin for error is rapidly diminishing. If the slide continues against the Cardinals and Tar Heels, the ACC Tournament could be very uncomfortable.  — Cobb

Winner: Calipari closing in on 900 victories

Arkansas coach John Calipari led his No. 20 Arkansas team to a 94-86 win at home over Missouri to secure his 31st season with 20 or more wins and in the process reached 897 career wins. He is now three wins shy of joining the exclusive 900 club, which is occupied by only five coaches: Mike Krzyzewski (1,202), Jim Boeheim (1,116), Rick Pitino (906) and Bob Knight (902).  — Boone

Loser: Washington faceplants to kiss at-large hopes goodbye

Washington‘s slim margin of error completely evaporated in Saturday’s 64-60 loss to lowly Maryland. Washington had one of the top NIL budgets in last spring’s portal cycle, and it is facing the music that without winning the Big Ten Tournament, it will not make the NCAA Tournament. Hannes Steinbach continued his stellar freshman season with 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting, but the Huskies shot just 5 for 22 from downtown and got out-rebounded by a baker’s dozen. Not great.  — Trotter

Winner: Cincinnati gets off the mat

Wes Miller apologized to Cincinnati’s home faithful after a dreadful meltdown loss to West Virginia on Feb. 5, and his Bearcats bunch has reeled off a four-game winning streak, punctuated by a stunning 84-68 win over No. 8 Kansas in front of a shocked Allen Fieldhouse crowd. Cincinnati’s offseason visions came to life. Big man Moustapha Thiam was dominant, scoring 28 points and ripping down eight rebounds on his birthday. Baba Miller added 18 points, eight assists and seven boards.

“This group’s been pretty consistently resilient, which is why I feel so much joy they get to have a moment like this tonight,” Miller said.

Cincinnati (15-12, 7-7 Big 12) is not far from fighting its way back toward the bubble. Tuesday’s road clash with JT Toppin-less Texas Tech is enormous   — Trotter

Winner: UConn bounces back with road win over Villanova

Three days after getting torched by Creighton, UConn’s defense had a revival. The No. 5 Huskies held Villanova to just five made buckets in the first 15 minutes of regulation in the second half and ran away with a 73-63 road victory. UConn played nine players. All nine of them scored at least four points, led by a dozen from captain Alex Karaban. 15-1 St. John’s vs. 15-2 UConn on Wednesday for Big East supremacy.  — Trotter

Winner: Colorado State gets job done

Jase Butler and Carey Booth combined for 47 points to help short-handed Colorado State knock off San Diego State 84-73. It’s a massive loss for SDSU’s quest to win the Mountain West. The Aztecs are now a full two games behind Utah State in the loss column.

This one also featured one of the best baptisms of the season, courtesy of the high-flying Booth.  — Cobb