The Hockey World Cup Returns in 2028: Host Cities and Key Details
The excitement of ice hockey at the international level is about to intensify. The NHL has announced that the World Cup of Hockey will return in February 2028, with Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague as host cities. Scotia Place, the future home of the Calgary Flames in 2027, and Rogers Place, home of the Edmonton Oilers, will be the venues in North America. Meanwhile, the O2 Arena in Prague will represent Europe in this tournament. Both Calgary and Prague will host seven games each. Six of these matches will be played in a round-robin format, while the seventh will be a single-elimination game. The two semi-final matches and the final will be played in Edmonton.The participation of NHL players in international competitions was a constant in the 1990s and 2000s, but this changed when the league stopped sending its players to the Olympic Games after the 2014 men’s tournament, and the last World Cup of Hockey was held in 2016. This left the IIHF World Championship as the only option for NHL players to compete internationally, although it was often held during the Stanley Cup playoffs, making it difficult for each nation to attract its top talent. The absence of current stars like Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Auston Matthews at the Olympics led the NHL and NHLPA to collaborate to make their participation possible. The eligibility of NHL players for the Olympic Games also led to the creation of the 4 Nations Face-Off, which was played in February 2025 with teams from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States. It was then that the league announced it would establish a schedule that would allow players to participate in international tournaments every two years, including the Olympics and the Hockey World Cup.“There is no international competition in sport that equals the passion, skill, and excitement of the best hockey players united to represent their countries,” declared NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “In the NHL and with our partners at the NHL Players’ Association, we are eager to bring the 2028 World Cup of Hockey to three spectacular venues in three cities that shine in hosting major events.”
Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner
The World Cup of Hockey was created in 1996, replacing the Canada Cup. The first tournament featured eight teams and was won by the United States. It resumed in 2004, with Canada winning what would be the first of two consecutive World Cups, after also winning the 2016 tournament.“When you think about what has been accomplished in the last three years, the 4 Nations tournament, which exceeded expectations. The return of NHL players to the Olympic Games this year in February in Milan was an incredible experience and tournament. And now, having the World Cup of Hockey working together. It’s great for our players. Our players want this. It’s wonderful for our fans. It’s excellent for the growth of hockey,” said Marty Walsh, NHLPA Executive Director.
Marty Walsh, NHLPA Executive Director
