USA vs AUT: Into the final game with a ‘nothing to lose’ mentality

"The fact that we earned a game seven at the World Championship shows what kind of character this team has. Of course we know who is coming and we know that the USA are a great opponent. We are in a good starting position and I firmly believe that we can get points there," says Paul Huber expressed the fighting spirit of the Austrian national team.

The starting position is clear for both teams. Assuming the U.S. defeats Hungary on Monday, the defending champions will also need a win over Austria to book their quarterfinal ticket. Conversely, Red White Red also needs a win, whether after 60 minutes or in overtime or in a penalty shootout.

“We have to go into this game with a nothing-to-lose mentality,” explained Paul Huber and thus pushes aside all calculation games in our own camp and especially in other people's camps. “We have to play our game right from the start, play compact, aggressive and defiant.”

The USA will play hard and with a lot of body, put plenty of shots on goal and create a lot of traffic in front of the Austrian goalkeeper. "They will create a lot of pressure against us in the attack zone. We have to counter that," he said Huber.

defender Ramon Schnetzer once again sees a possible recipe for success in a unified team performance and the much-vaunted fighting spirit: "We are all really looking forward to being in the position to be able to play for the quarter-finals. There is nothing better for a player. In games like this you have to be more ready than usual. When everything is at stake for both, everyone drives harder and faster. It's no secret that we will have phases in which we have to defend well and probably have to defend for a long time. But that doesn't say much “That’s how we can win. We have to be good at the back, we have to defend everything we can, we need a strong performance from our goaltender and the puck to bounce our way. If we have the necessary luck, the fighting spirit and grow together as a team, everyone gives it their all, no matter who they are and no matter when.”

Moving forward, it is important to get as many pucks as possible in front of the opponent's goal, Ramon Schnetzer: "Then luck arises and you have to work for it. Especially on the ice. If you bring everything to the goal, you go where it hurts, then the puck will jump for you. And that's exactly what we need."

With a unified performance they also want to unsettle the USA, Paul Huber: "If we stand compactly and allow little, they might also lose their nerve. Then it's our time to strike."

The last duel was three years ago. At the 2023 World Championship they lost 1–4 to the USA in Tampere. At the same place a year earlier, they scored a point against the USA in a 2-3 overtime defeat. By the way, that would be the scenario that our neighbors Germany would like to see. Because that way the German national team would make it into the playoffs, provided they beat relegated Great Britain on Monday evening and Latvia beat Hungary. This would move Latvia to third place with at least 11 points and Germany, the USA and Austria would each have 10 points. Germany would end up in fourth place in the small table.

2026 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

May 15, 2026 - May 31, 2026, Zurich and Fribourg (SUI)
Defending champions: USA
Group A, Zurich: USA, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Hungary, Great Britain
Group B, Fribourg: Canada, Sweden, Czech Republic, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway, Slovenia, Italy

Schedule
USA vs. Austria
Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 4:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Live on ORF 1

Already played
Great Britain vs. Austria 2:5 (2:3, 0:2, 0:0)
Sat., May 16, 2026, 12:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena, 7,974 spectators
Goalscorers Great Britain: David Clements (16th), Liam Kirk (17th)
Goalscorers Austria: Benjamin Nissner (3rd), Peter Schneider (7th, 27th), Paul Huber (10th), Leon Wallner (34th)
Game sheet

Austria vs. Hungary 4:2 (1:1, 0:0, 3:1)
Sun., May 17, 2026, 4:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Goalscorers Austria: Vinzenz Rohrer (6th/PP), Dominic Zwerger (47th/PP), Thimo Nickl (48th, 60th)
Goalscorers Hungary: Istvan Sofron (12./PP), Peter Vincze (54./PP)
Game sheet

Latvia vs. Austria 1:3 (0:0, 0:1, 1:2)
Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 4:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Goalscorer Latvia: Rudolfs Balcers (41.)
Goalscorers Austria: Tim Harnisch (28th), Benjamin Nissner (45th/PP), Vinzenz Rohrer (60th/EN)
Game sheet

Austria vs. Switzerland 0:9 (0:4, 0:3, 0:2)
Wed., May 20, 2026, 4:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Goalscorers Switzerland: Theo Rochette (6th, 33rd), Timo Meier (10th), Nico Hischier (12th, 30th/PP), Damien Riat (14th/PP, 51st/PP), Calvin Thurkauf (31st), Christoph Bertschy (57th)
Game sheet

Austria vs. Germany 2:6 (0:0, 1:2, 1:4)
Sat., May 23, 2026, 8:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Goalscorers Austria: Leon Wallner (23rd), Vinzenz Rohrer (49th).
Goalscorers Germany: Lukas Reichel (24th, 46th/PP, 52nd/PP), Joshua Samanski (34th), Manuel Wiederer (49th), Alexander Ehl (55th/EN)
Game sheet

Finland vs. Austria 5:2 (1:0, 3:0, 1:2)
Sun., May 24, 2026, 8:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Goalscorers Finland: Mikael Granlund (19th/PP), Saku Maenalanen (24th), Jesse Puljujarvi (32nd), Sakari Manninen (33rd), Patrik Puistola (48th) 
Goalscorers Austria: Benjamin Nissner (44th), Leon Wallner (59th)
Game sheet

Ticketing
Information about World Championship ticket sales 2026.iihfworlds.com
Link to World Championship tickets for Zurich and Fribourg 
Link to individual games with Austria 
Link to World Championship packages with the Austria games