How to watch USA vs Germany live: a complete IIHF World Championship 2026 group stage guide for May 20th
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USA meet Germany in a Group A clash at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, with puck drop set for 20:20 CEST at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich. Both teams are looking to bounce back after opening losses, giving this matchup early importance in the group standings. Team USA fell 3-1 to Switzerland in its opener, while Germany enters the game needing points of its own.
The time converts to 7:20 PM BST, 2:20 PM ET, 11:20 AM PT, 11:50 PM IST, and 4:20 AM AEST on May 21. In the US, the game is on NHL Network, and Team USA’s schedule lists the same start time and venue. Free streams are available in Germany via ProSieben MAXX and in Switzerland via SRF, while viewers outside those countries can use their home-country subscription service through a VPN if needed.
Where to watch USA vs Germany
Below is a complete overview of where to watch USA vs Germany live around the world.
| Country | Streaming Service | Price |
| Switzerland | SRF / RTS | Free |
| Germany | ProSieben MAXX / Sporteurope.TV | Free / EUR 15 pass |
| United States | NHL Network / ESPN+ | From $12.99/month |
| Canada | TSN+ / RDS | From CA$29.99/month |
| Sweden | Viaplay Sweden | From SEK 449/month |
| Finland | Viaplay Finland | From EUR 15.99/month |
| Czechia | CT Sport | Free |
| United Kingdom | Premier Sports | From £12.99/month |
| Global (rest of world) | IIHF.tv | EUR 30 tournament pass / EUR 7 per game |
How to watch USA vs Germany for free
Free national broadcasters carry IIHF games under licensing deals tied to their home country, so the stream is geo-restricted and shows an error to anyone outside that country. For USA vs Germany, ProSieben MAXX in Germany, SRF in Switzerland, and CT Sport Plus in Czechia are all carrying the match for free with German, German, and Czech commentary respectively. A VPN changes your virtual location to the broadcaster's country, which unblocks the official free stream legally and without piracy. Our editors regularly test best VPNs for streaming against geo-restricted hockey broadcasters, and the steps below explain how to use one.
- Choose a reliable VPN with servers in the right countries. We recommend NordVPN for the IIHF Worlds, with strong server coverage in Germany, Switzerland, and Czechia and consistent unblocking of free national broadcasters. Check NordVPN for any active discount before signing up.
- Download and install the VPN app on your device. NordVPN supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, smart TVs, and Amazon Fire TV. Install the app on the device you plan to watch on.
- Connect to a server in the country matching your chosen broadcaster. Connect to a German server for ProSieben MAXX, a Swiss server for SRF, or a Czech server for CT Sport Plus. Switch servers within that country if the stream does not load on your first try.
- Open the free streaming platform. Visit ProSieben MAXX, SRF, or CT Sport in your browser. Some platforms ask you to create a free account before the live stream plays.
- Find the USA vs Germany game in the live or sports section. Look for the IIHF World Championship hub or the live now feed on the broadcaster's homepage.
- Start watching for free. Keep the VPN connected for the full game, including overtime and any shootout. Commentary will be in the broadcaster's local language.
USA vs Germany free streams
Some broadcasters around the world show selected IIHF World Championship 2026 matches for free. These free streams are geo-restricted to the broadcaster's country, and commentary is usually not in English. A VPN lets viewers access these free streams from abroad by changing their virtual location to the broadcaster's country.
| Country | Streaming Service | Stream language | Notes |
| Germany | ProSieben MAXX | German | Free OTA TV plus online simulcast |
| Germany | ran.de / Joyn | German | Online simulcast of ProSieben MAXX, free registration |
| Switzerland | SRF | German | Online commented livestream of all 64 games |
| Czechia | CT Sport Plus | Czech | Online stream of all non-Czech games, free |
Best VPNs to watch USA vs Germany
We have tested the VPNs below against live sports streaming, including IIHF coverage on Swiss, German, and Czech broadcasters. They combine fast speeds, reliable unblocking, and stable HD playback for the free international streams as well as paid services like TSN+ and Premier Sports. These are our top three picks for watching USA vs Germany, especially if you plan to use the free stream options above.
- NordVPN – best overall for streaming. NordVPN starts at $3.49/month and runs servers with the NordLynx protocol holding strong speeds in our streaming tests. Smart DNS support and reliable unblocking of free hockey broadcasters in Switzerland, Czechia, and Germany make it the strongest pick for USA vs Germany. Read our full NordVPN review for details.
- Surfshark – best budget option. Surfshark starts at $2.49/month with unlimited simultaneous connections and 4,500+ servers across 100 countries. The WireGuard protocol delivers smooth HD coverage in our tests, which is enough for free streams from CT Sport, SRF, or ProSieben MAXX. See our Surfshark review for the full breakdown.
- Proton VPN – best for privacy-focused users. Proton VPN starts at $2.99/month and operates thousands of servers in 148 countries from Switzerland's strict privacy jurisdiction. A solid free plan and reliable streaming performance make it a good fit for fans who want extra privacy while watching the IIHF coverage. Our Proton VPN review covers the technical detail.
Frequently asked questions about USA vs Germany
Where can I watch USA vs Germany?
In the US, NHL Network carries the game, with ESPN+ as the co-broadcaster for selected IIHF coverage. TSN+ has it in Canada, Premier Sports is the UK rights holder for IIHF 2026, and SRF in the host country of Switzerland offers a free stream. The full country list, with prices and links, is in the where-to-watch table above.
What time does USA vs Germany start?
Puck drop at the Swiss Life Arena in Zurich is set for 20:20 CEST on May 20th, 2026. That converts to 7:20 PM BST in the UK and 2:20 PM ET / 11:20 AM PT in both the US and Canada.
How can I watch USA vs Germany from abroad with my home subscription?
Paid services like TSN+, Premier Sports, Viaplay, and NHL Network geo-block the live stream the moment you log in from outside your home country, even though you are paying for it. A VPN lets you set your virtual location back home so the broadcaster's app sees a domestic IP and serves the stream you already paid for. Install NordVPN, connect to a server in your home country (a Canadian server for TSN+, a UK server for Premier Sports, a Finnish server for Viaplay Finland, or a US server for NHL Network), then open the broadcaster's app or website as normal. Our roundup of best VPNs for streaming covers the providers that handle geo-detection most reliably. Broadcasters can rotate IP detection, so a VPN with a large server pool in the right country is essential.
Can I watch USA vs Germany for free?
Yes. ProSieben MAXX and ran.de are showing the game for Free in Germany, SRF has a free online stream in Switzerland, and CT Sport Plus carries it free in Czechia. All four streams are geo-restricted, so a VPN connected to a server in the matching country is needed if you are watching from abroad.
Where can I watch USA vs Germany highlights and replays?
Paid broadcasters with on-demand replays of the game include NHL Network in the US, TSN+ in Canada, Premier Sports in the UK, and Viaplay across the Nordics. Free on-demand replay is also available on the ProSieben MAXX and ran.de archives, on SRF Play, and on CT Sport Plus in Czechia. The official IIHF YouTube channel posts goal clips and full highlights for free after each game with no geo-restriction in most markets. IIHF.tv on-demand is geo-blocked the same way as its live stream, and the VPN method from the previous question also works on replays if your home broadcaster's catalog blocks you abroad.
Is USA vs Germany on NHL Network?
Yes. NHL Network is the exclusive US TV home of the 2026 IIHF World Championship and carries every USA national team game, including USA vs Germany on May 20th. The game is also available through Fubo, DirecTV, and Sling for cord cutters with an NHL Network channel package.
What channel is USA vs Germany on in Germany?
In Germany, the game airs free on ProSieben MAXX, with the same broadcast streamed online on ran.de and Joyn. Fans who want every match of the tournament in one place can use Sporteurope.TV for a EUR 15 tournament pass or MagentaSport as a paid alternative.
Is USA vs Germany on Sky Sports or TNT Sports in the UK?
No. UK rights to the IIHF World Championship are held exclusively by Premier Sports for the 2024-2028 cycle, so the game is not on Sky Sports, TNT Sports, or BBC iPlayer. Premier Sports is available through its own app, on Sky, on Virgin TV, and as an Amazon Prime Video Channels add-on.
