By Emma Smith, BBC Sport at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena
The stage is set for a fitting finale to a dramatic Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics. The two dominant forces in men's ice hockey, Canada and the United States, will face off on Sunday for the gold medal at the Milano Santagiulia Arena.
While both nations are powerhouses in the sport, their paths to Olympic glory have been markedly different. Canada enters the game aiming to make history as the first nation to secure 10 men's ice hockey gold medals, with their last triumph coming in 2014. The United States, in contrast, has not claimed the men's title since their iconic "Miracle on Ice" victory in 1980, and they haven't beaten Canada in a men's Olympic final since 1960. Canada has prevailed in their last two final meetings (2002 and 2010). The Americans, however, will be seeking a measure of redemption after their women's team defeated Canada earlier in the week.
The Road to Gold
Neither team has had an easy path to the final. Both required overtime to advance from the quarter-finals. Canada, in particular, showed resilience in the semi-finals, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Finland 3-2 with a goal in the final minute.
The Canadian squad is also battling significant fitness concerns. Captain Sidney Crosby missed the semi-final after a knee injury in the previous round, and his status for Sunday is uncertain. Even if he plays, he is unlikely to be at full strength. The team has also been battling a sickness bug, which became public during the quarter-final when star player Nathan MacKinnon was visibly ill on the bench.
Despite these setbacks, Canada's roster remains formidable. Ice hockey commentator Seth Bennett described their offensive power as unparalleled. "In Connor McDavid you have the best player on the planet by a million miles," Bennett told BBC Sport. He also highlighted the depth of talent, including superstar Nathan MacKinnon, the world's top defenceman Cale Makar, and emerging talents like 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini.
The USA, while possessing significant star power, is seen as having a different kind of strength. "What they have not had is much scoring from captain Auston Matthews, he has not yet taken any of the games by the horns," Bennett noted. Instead, their backbone is defenceman Quinn Hughes, who Bennett calls "the best three-on-three player in the world," after his crucial overtime winner against Sweden.
A Tournament Transformed by NHL Talent
This final caps off an Olympic tournament that has been revitalized by the return of NHL players for the first time since 2014. Despite initial concerns over ice quality, their presence has elevated the competition to new heights.
"This is the highest level of hockey we have ever seen at an Olympics," Bennett stated. "The NHL players have made it a different world." He contrasted it with recent Games, where the lack of elite skill sometimes led to "tight, dull games." The quality on display in Milan has been breathtaking, with Bennett describing moments where he and his colleagues have been left "sat watching, smiling, laughing" at the sheer talent on the ice.
More Than a Game: Political Tensions Add a Charge
The on-ice battle will be set against a backdrop of heightened political tension. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, a known hockey enthusiast, is highly likely to attend. The potential attendance of U.S. President Donald Trump, however, would add a major layer of complexity.
While Trump was scheduled to remain in Washington as of Friday, a last-minute change would create a logistical challenge for the IOC and turn the arena into a "political cauldron." His previous comments on tariffs and the notion of Canada becoming the "51st state" have already inflamed passions. The political friction was palpable earlier in 2025 when a Four Nations match between the two sides in Montreal saw three fights break out in the first nine seconds, accompanied by boos for the U.S. national anthem.
While the high stakes of an Olympic gold medal may prevent a repeat of that early mayhem, commentator Seth Bennett expects the intensity to be relentless. "There won't be a repeat of the fights... They will be at each other though; in every break in play, there will be a cross-check, a word, a push, a scrum."
Ironically, some of the fiercest on-ice rivals are also NHL teammates. Bennett pointed to Matthew Tkachuk (USA) and Brad Marchand (Canada), who will battle each other intensely before potentially sharing a flight home as Florida Panthers teammates chasing the Stanley Cup.
As for neutrals wondering who to support, Bennett offered a playful take. "Canada going for their 10th gold, so usually the neutral will go with the underdog. But that is USA... How do you not love a team with all those players? But how do you not love a USA team who are having this much fun?"
The puck drops at 13:10 GMT on Sunday in a game that promises to be as compelling for its sporting excellence as for the charged atmosphere surrounding it.
Winter Olympics 2026
*6-22 February, Milan-Cortina*
Coverage: Watch two live streams and highlights on BBC iPlayer (UK only), updates on BBC Radio 5 Live, and live text commentary and video highlights on the BBC Sport website and app.
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