Italy vs France Preview & Prediction | 2026 Winter Olympics | Women’s Ice Hockey | Preliminary Round

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Neither of these two nations qualified for the 2022 Olympics, so this represents a special moment for both Italy and France in the second all-European match-up of the day.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports (some events will also be televised on the BBC / TNT Sports / Not Televised / USA – NBC, USA Network, CNBC & NBCSN

How to watch online: UK – discovery+ (some events can be streamed live on the BBC’s digital platforms / USA – Peacock & nbcolympics.com

Italy vs France prediction

This is expected to be the closest contest of the day’s action in the preliminary round between two well-match sides with players featuring across Europe. France’s squad unsurprisingly contains a healthy sprinkling of Canadian-based players but the likes of Estelle Duvin and Chloe Aurard-Bushee should attract plenty of attention, the latter having been the first to ever be drafted in the PWHL back in 2023.

Italy will have the big benefit of home support in this match and that can only provide their players with a psychological boost in what will no doubt be a tough, physical and energy-sapping encounter. Despite this though, France may just have the better tools offensively and are a higher-ranked side than their opponents. In what is likely to be a tight game, consider backing the French to edge it.

Italy vs France tip: Italy to win