The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have reached a fever pitch in the curling rink, as Canada’s men’s and women’s teams navigate a gauntlet of high-stakes playoffs and unprecedented international scrutiny. As of 20 February 2026, the Canadian men have secured a spot in the gold medal final, while the women’s team has successfully battled through a tumultuous round-robin to reach the semi-final stage.
Men’s Curling: Jacobs Eyes Gold Amidst Controversy
The Canadian men’s team, skipped by Brad Jacobs, has officially advanced to the gold medal game after a resilient performance in the knockout stages. Canada is set to face Great Britain, led by Bruce Mouat, in a heavyweight showdown for the Olympic title on Saturday, 21 February 2026. The match is scheduled for 19:05 local time (13:05 ET).
The road to the final has been marred by a “double-touch” scandal that dominated headlines earlier this week. Accusations of rule violations regarding stone handling—specifically involving Jacobs and teammate Marc Kennedy—led to a heated international debate. However, a recent rule reversal by World Curling has provided some relief to the Canadian camp, allowing the team to refocus on their clinical play, which was on full display during their semi-final victory over Norway.
Women’s Curling: Homan Reaches the Final Four
On the women’s side, Rachel Homan’s rink has officially completed the playoff field. Despite a mid-tournament scare following a loss to the United States, the reigning world champions found their rhythm to secure a semi-final berth. The women’s semi-finals are scheduled to begin today, 20 February 2026, at 14:05 CET.
The final round-robin standings for the women’s event saw Canada finish near the top of the pack alongside South Korea and Switzerland. The playoff bracket is now set, with Canada aiming to return to the Olympic podium after a challenging cycle for the national program.
Tournament Standings & Key Results
| Event | Status | Upcoming Matchup |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s Team | Finalists | Canada vs. Great Britain (Gold) |
| Women’s Team | Semi-Finals | Canada vs. TBD |
| Men’s Bronze | Scheduled | Switzerland vs. Norway |
The “Double-Touch” Storm
The 2026 Games will likely be remembered for the “cheating storm” that erupted in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Swedish media and various international observers accused Canadian and British players of “double-touching” stones during delivery—a violation of curling’s fair-play traditions. While some critics suggested the sport’s reputation was “dead” due to the controversy, others, including Swedish management, noted that the unprecedented attention has brought a record number of new viewers to the sport.
For Team Canada, the focus remains on the ice. With the men’s gold medal match less than 24 hours away, the nation watches to see if Brad Jacobs can secure Canada’s first men’s Olympic curling gold since 2014.