Will Russia Participate in the 2028 Hockey World Cup? The Pending Decision
The uncertainty about the participation of Russia and its NHL stars in the 2028 Hockey World Cup remains. The current geopolitical situation plays a crucial role in this decision, which still does not have a definitive answer. Let’s see how things develop. Time will tell. There is no immediate need or urgency to make that decision, so let’s see how it all unfolds. Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner The World Cup of Hockey, a joint project between the NHL and the NHLPA, is scheduled for February 2028. The tournament will feature eight teams competing in three cities: Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague. Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been excluded from international competitions in all categories by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The IIHF has cited safety concerns as the main reason for this ban. The inclusion of Russia in the Hockey World Cup has generated an intense debate. Some argue that a tournament that seeks to be the “best against the best” should have Russia’s participation. At the time of publication, three of the NHL’s top 20 scorers were of Russian origin: Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild, and Artemi Panarin of the Los Angeles Kings. Russia could also boast one of the best goaltending trios in the world, with Andrei Vasilevskiy of Tampa, Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders, and Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers. The concern over the integration of Russian players in an international event led by the NHL and the opposition from countries like Finland were key factors in the cancellation of the 2024 Hockey World Cup, which was replaced by the 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025. Although the NHL is not obligated to recognize the IIHF’s ban for its international events, Bettman has indicated that the league will follow “what the international community is doing in terms of athletics” to determine Russia’s status. The IIHF President, Luc Tardif, has indicated that his organization will be guided by the International Olympic Committee. Neither Russia nor Belarus had teams in the recent hockey tournaments of the Winter Olympics in Milan.Last December, the IOC advised international sports organizations to allow youth teams and athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete with their full flag and national anthem identity, a step that many considered the first step towards the reintegration of the nations into international tournaments.
The IIHF has considered welcoming Russia and Belarus back to the under-18 competition in the 2027-28 season, and Tardif called it “a first step”. Marty Walsh, executive director of the NHLPA, said last year that he would love to see the league’s Russian players participate again in tournaments of the best against the best. This will be the fourth edition of the Hockey World Cup, which was previously held in 1996, 2004 and 2016, with the last winner being the Canada team. The return of the World Cup is part of an aggressive expansion of the NHL’s international calendar. Bettman has said that the vision is to alternate between the NHL’s participation in the Olympic men’s hockey tournament and a World Cup every two years. The 2028 Hockey World Cup will feature eight teams, with two groups of four teams each and the top three advancing. Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner, said the intensity of the competition at the World Cup could be greater than that of the Olympics. The final decision on Russia’s participation in the 2028 Hockey World Cup is still pending, and the hockey world awaits with anticipation.
