NHL announces return of the World Cup of Hockey for 2028 season

The World Cup of Hockey, which last took place in 2016, is set to return in February 2028, with aspirations of securing a consistent position on the global sports calendar alongside the Winter Olympics.

This announcement was made by the NHL and the NHL Players Association in Montreal, prior to the Four Nations Face-Off, an event designed as a preparatory competition for the 2026 Winter Olympics, replacing the traditional NHL All-Star Game.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman emphasized the significance of international competition, stating, "International best-on-best competition is very important to our players. Representing their countries on the ice is in their DNA and hockey fans love it."

He further noted, "Resuming Olympic participation next season and staging a World Cup of Hockey in February 2028 will provide expanded opportunity for more players to represent more nations in best-on-best competition. With this tournament and the World Cup's return to regular rotation, the NHL and NHLPA take a major step in our joint commitment to international hockey."

Details regarding participating teams and game dates have yet to be disclosed.

A bidding process for host cities and venues is anticipated to commence in the coming months for the fourth edition of the World Cup, which originated in 1996 as a precursor to the introduction of NHL players at the Winter Olympics in 1998 in Nagano, Japan.

The United States triumphed over Canada in the finals of 1996, but Canada has claimed victory in the last two editions of the World Cup, both held in Toronto, in 2004 and 2016.

Swedish defenseman Erik Karlsson of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins expressed enthusiasm, stating, "It's great, something that we've missed for a long period of time. If we can get to a schedule where every second year there's a big tournament played, I think that's ideal for everyone."

The NHL opted not to send players to the 2018 or 2022 Winter Olympics but will pause league activities to allow players to participate in the upcoming Olympics in Italy next February.

The 2028 World Cup will be conducted using NHL-sized rinks, NHL rules, and NHL officials, rather than adhering to international standards.

SportsLigue