For the first time since 2005 Minnesota will host the 2026 edition of the World Junior Hockey Championships, according to a report by The Rink Live’s Jess Myers.
Minnesota and Seattle were the finalists to host the 2026 tournament with Minnesota reportedly being award the tournament. Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis are expected to be the venues where the tournament is played.
The World Juniors started in 1970 and has become one of the most watched and anticipated hockey tournaments in the world. The tournament features the best U-20 teams from around the planet.
The 2024 games are currently taking place in Sweden, having reached the semifinals with Sweden taking on Czechia on one side of the bracket and the U.S. playing Finland on the other side.
This will be the third time Minnesota has hosted the World Juniors. The Twin Cities and Rochester hosted the 1982 games while Thief River Falls was the secondary site in 2005 when Grand Forks hosted the World Juniors.
