We're midway through the IIHF World Championship group phase, and if there's on thing we've learned, it's never to miss an Austria game. The Eagles have been box office, their games producing 30 goals at the ludicrous average rate of 10 per game, though as things stand they won't survive to see the quarter-finals.
Read on and we'll show you how to watch IIHF World Championship 2024 from anywhere with a VPN, and potentially for FREE.
Switzerland and Sweden are looking like the teams to beat. However, the true lay of the land in Group A in particular is unlikely to reveal itself for a few days yet, with powerhouses Switzerland, Finland and reigning champions Canada all set to face off in quick succession, on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday.
They may have endured a nightmare tournament on home ice 12 months ago, but all early signs suggest that No.2-ranked Finland have dusted themselves off in in Prague and Ostrava, and mean business.
The Lions, who have won two of the past four tournaments – the others being snapped up by Team Canada – skidded to a seventh-place finish last time out, and are therefore doubly determined to give their outgoing legendary head coach Jukka Jalonen the send-off his trophy-studded reign warrants.
With Russia excluded, USA are out to show that they're, at the very least, the best of the rest, despite finishing behind both Germany and Latvia this time last year. However, they've lost two of their opening three games, and can't afford many more slip-ups.
Here's everything you need to know to watch IIHF World Championship 2024 online, including TV channels and live stream information, with or without cable. We’ve also listed the full IIHF World Championship schedule below so you won't miss a moment.
FREE IIHF World Championship live streams
The 2024 IIHF World Championship is being live streamed for free on ORF in Austria, on ProSieben in Germany, and on YouTube in countries where it hasn't been picked up by a big-name broadcaster, such as Australia.
But what if you're based there but aren't at home to catch that free IIHF World Championship coverage? Maybe you're on holiday and don't want to spend money on pay TV in another country, when you'd usually be able to watch the event for free at home?
Don't worry — you can watch it via a VPN instead. We'll show you how to do that below.
IIHF World Championship live streams around the world
Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the ice hockey on your usual subscription?
You can still watch the IIHF World Championship live stream online thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for fans away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market:
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're in the U.S. and want to view an Austrian service, you'd select Austria from the list.
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to ORF or another website and watch the 2024 IIHF World Championship live stream.
Watch IIHF World Championship in the U.S.
In the U.S., the 2024 IIHF World Championship is split between NHL Network and ESPN Plus.
While an ESPN Plus subscription doesn't grant access to regular ESPN content, it will let you stream thousands of live events, original shows and series that can't be found anywhere else. ESPN+ is available for $10.99 a month or $109.99 a year.
Even better, ESPN Plus is available in a bundle with both Hulu and Disney Plus for $24.99 a month. That gets you all of the ESPN Plus events, top Hulu shows like "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", as well as the Disney Star Wars and Marvel libraries.
If you've already cut the cord and don't have a cable package, you can get NHL Network through an OTT cable TV alternative.
One of the best value options is Sling TV. Prices start from $40/month and your first month half-price. You'll just need to add its Sports Extra add-on for an additional $11/month to include NHL Network.
How to watch IIHF World Championship in the U.K.
Viaplay has the rights to the IIHF World Championship in the U.K..
You'll have to subscribe to the Total package for coverage, with the plan costing £14.99 per month. It also includes NHL Playoffs coverage. However, there's currently a deal in place for annual membership that saves you 33%, equivalent to a monthly fee of £9.99.
If you're not in the U.K. right now, you can still watch an IIHF World Championship live stream by using one of the best VPN services, such as NordVPN.
Watch IIHF World Championship in Canada
TSN has the rights to show 2024 IIHF World Championship live streams in Canada.
If you don't have cable, you could subscribe to TSN+ instead, which lets you get access to all TSN has to offer on an $8/month or $80/year subscription basis.
Watch IIHF World Championship in Australia
If you're in Australia, you can watch the 2024 IIHF World Championship on YouTube, which is of course completely free.
Not in Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN like NordVPN to watch all the action on your account as if you were back home. Otherwise, you may be restricted to highlights.
IIHF World Championship schedule 2024
(All times BST)
Friday, May 10
3:20 p.m. – Switzerland vs Norway
3:30 p.m. – Czech Republic vs Finland
7:20 p.m. – Slovakia vs Germany
7:20 p.m. – Sweden vs USA
Saturday, May 11
11:20 a.m. – Great Britain vs Canada
11:20 a.m. – Austria vs Denmark
3:20 p.m. – Norway vs Czech Republic
3:20 p.m. – France vs Kazakhstan
7:20 p.m. – Poland vs Latvia
7:20 p.m. – USA vs Germany
Sunday, May 12
11:20 a.m. – Finland vs Great Britain
11:20 a.m. – Slovakia vs Kazakhstan
3:20 p.m. – Denmark vs Canada
3:20 p.m. – Latvia vs France
7:20 p.m. – Austria vs Switzerland
7:20 p.m. – Sweden vs Poland
Monday, May 13
3:20 p.m. – Norway vs Finland
3:20 p.m. – USA vs Slovakia
7:20 p.m. – Germany vs Sweden
7:20 p.m. – Switzerland vs Czech Republic
Tuesday, May 14
3:20 p.m. – Denmark vs Norway
3:20 p.m. – Kazakhstan vs Latvia
7:20 p.m. – Poland vs France
7:20 p.m. – Canada vs Austria
Wednesday, May 15
3:20 p.m. – Czech Republic vs Denmark
3:20 p.m. – Germany vs Latvia
7:20 p.m. – Slovakia vs Poland
7:20 p.m. – Switzerland vs Great Britain
Thursday, May 16
3:20 p.m. – Finland vs Austria
3:20 p.m. – Kazakhstan vs Sweden
7:20 p.m. – Canada vs Norway
7:20 p.m. – USA vs France
Friday, May 17
3:20 p.m. – Great Britain vs Denmark
3:20 p.m. – Germany vs Kazakhstan
7:20 p.m. – Czech Republic vs Austria
7:20 p.m. – Poland vs USA
Saturday, May 18
11:20 a.m. – Denmark vs Switzerland
11:20 a.m. – Latvia vs Sweden
3:20 p.m. – Canada vs Finland
3:20 p.m. – Germany vs Poland
7:20 p.m. – Czech Republic vs Great Britain
7:20 p.m. – France vs Slovakia
Sunday, May 19
3:20 p.m. – Norway vs Austria
3:20 p.m. – USA vs Kazakhstan
7:20 p.m. – Switzerland vs Canada
7:20 p.m. – Slovakia vs Latvia
Monday, May 20
3:20 p.m. – Great Britain vs Norway
3:20 p.m. – Sweden vs France
7:20 p.m. – Finland vs Denmark
7:20 p.m. – Kazakhstan vs Poland
Tuesday, May 21
11:20 a.m. – Austria vs Great Britain
11:20 a.m. – France vs Germany
3:20 p.m. – Canada vs Czech Republic
3:20 p.m. – Latvia vs USA
7:20 p.m. – Finland vs Switzerland
7:20 p.m. – Sweden vs Slovakia
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