IIHF World Junior Championship

The IIHF World Junior Championship (WJC), commonly referred to as the World Juniors, is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world. It is traditionally held in late December, ending in early January (beginning from Boxing Day to January 5). The tournament usually attracts the top hockey players in this age category.

The main tournament features the top ten ranked hockey nations in the world, comprising the 'Top Division', from which a world champion is crowned. There are also three lower pools—Divisions I, II and III—that each play separate tournaments playing for the right to be promoted to a higher pool, or face relegation to a lower pool.

The competition holds a particularly high profile in Canada, partly for historical reasons. Before NHL players were permitted to compete in the Winter Olympics, this tournament was one of the few opportunities for top Western players to face the best athletes from the Soviet Bloc. The only other event of comparable stature that featured such matchups was the irregularly scheduled Canada Cup for senior national teams. The tournament's stature in Canada can also be credited to Canada's strong performance in the tournament (it has won the gold medal twenty times since its inception), the role of hockey in Canadian culture, along with strong media coverage and fan attendance. As such, in recent years, nearly half of the tournaments have been held in Canadian cities, with the remainder being held in Europe and the United States.

Sweden is the defending champion, having defeated Czechia to win the 2026 edition in Minnesota.