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Hockey’s greatest international rivalry played out again Thursday, as the U.S. women’s team claimed the gold medal over Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics. A revival on the men’s side could be soon forthcoming, and if so, plenty of additional television viewers and heightened geopolitical intensity are sure to follow.
The U.S. women’s dramatic 2–1 overtime win over the Canadians, played out in front of a lively crowd in Milan, was the latest installment of their rivalry following six prior Olympic gold medal matchups, including in 2022, 2018, 2014, and 2010. The Americans trailed for much of the game, scoring the tying goal with only two minutes left in regulation before the winner by Megan Keller in the extra period.
The same matchup on the men’s side is just one set of semifinal games away. Both the U.S. and Canadian teams needed dramatic overtime goals Wednesday in the quarterfinals to advance. Now, Canada will face Finland in the semifinals Friday, followed by the U.S. against Slovakia.
Each of the teams are buttressed by top NHL talent, as the pro league is participating in the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
If the U.S. and Canada both win, it will set up the first Olympic gold medal final between the two since 2010, famously won by Canada on a Sidney Crosby golden goal.
Icy Politics
Beyond longstanding on-ice rivalries, however, there is far more in the mix now because of the current politics between the U.S. and Canada. U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term in particular has, so far, been characterized by a more combative relationship between the two countries on a variety of issues including tariffs and border security. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney has been an outspoken critic of many of Trump’s policies, heightening the hockey rivalry even further.
That was very much part of the atmosphere for last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, which featured a Canadian win over the U.S., plenty of anti-U.S. rebukes from Canadian fans, and historic viewership on both sides of the border.
The situation has also bled into how Olympic athletes have been viewed during the ongoing competition in Italy, such as Trump’s attacks on other Team USA athletes that have spoken out against U.S. policies.
NBC, the U.S. rights holder for the Olympics, is likely to be a big beneficiary of the U.S.-Canada competition. Hockey, both on the men’s and women’s side, is traditionally a major draw in any Olympics. This year’s event has already enjoyed banner viewership results so far, buttressed by a favorable time-zone difference from the U.S. and a successfully refined programming strategy.
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