Which teams have qualified for Winter Olympics men’s ice hockey gold medal match in Milano Cortina? When and where to watch the final

The men’s hockey gold medal game at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics will see Team USA face its biggest rival, Canada, on Sunday, Feb. 22. Both teams reached the final after winning their semifinal matches on Friday. Canada recovered from a slow start to edge Finland 3-2. The United States, meanwhile, dominated Slovakia and built a five-goal lead before sealing a 6-2 victory. The highly anticipated final will begin at 8:10 a.m. ET and will decide the Olympic champion.

Both sides arrive undefeated and full of confidence. Each team needed overtime in the quarterfinal round, showing how evenly matched the tournament has been. Players from both camps described the matchup as a “battle for the ages,” highlighting the intensity of the rivalry. This final also renews one of the greatest competitions in international sport. The United States has not won Olympic gold since the 1980 Lake Placid Games, while Canada is chasing another title to extend its historic dominance.

Rivalry history and what is at stake for the Winter Olympics men’s ice hockey gold medal match

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This will be the 20th Olympic meeting between the two nations. Canada leads the all-time Olympic record 12-4-3, including a famous 3-2 overtime victory in the 2010 Vancouver final when Sidney Crosby scored the winner. Canada also defeated the U.S. in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off final. However, the Americans beat Canada 4-2 during the group stage at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, proving they can challenge their rivals on the biggest stage.

Canada has won nine Olympic gold medals in men’s hockey. Six came before NHL players were allowed to participate. Since NHL participation began at the 1998 Nagano Games, Canada has continued to be a powerhouse, though its last gold in that era came at Sochi 2014. The United States is still chasing its first Olympic title since the famous “Miracle on Ice,” when the Americans defeated Finland after stunning the Soviet Union in 1980.

Both teams advanced through dramatic quarterfinal games that required overtime, reinforcing how tight the competition has been. The final now brings together two unbeaten teams, each aiming to define a generation of players. The matchup has been portrayed as a historic showdown, suggesting a game that could be remembered for years because of the rivalry and the stakes involved.

Fans can watch the gold medal game on NBC, NBCOlympics.com, or through NBC’s streaming service Peacock. Only one team will leave Italy with the gold medal, and the result will add another chapter to ice hockey’s most famous rivalry!



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