NHL, Players’ Association announce World Cup of Hockey tournament for 2028

The World Cup of Hockey is coming back in 2028.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players’ Association executive director Marty Walsh announced the return of the men’s international tournament Wednesday before Canada played Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The World Cup will take place in February 2028, instead of an all-star weekend, at a yet-to-be-named location.

The league says a bidding process for host cities and venues expected to open in the coming months.

The NHL last held a World Cup in 2016 in Toronto. An under-23 Team North America and Team Europe, a group of all-stars from unrepresented countries, joined Canada, the United States, Russia, Sweden, Finland and Czechia in the eight-team tournament.

Bettman has repeatedly stated the desire to have a best-on-best international tournament every two years.

NHL players will return to the Olympics in 2026 for the first time since 2014 after missing the 2018 and 2022 Games.

The 4 Nations Face-Off between Canada, the U.S., Sweden and Finland serves as an Olympic appetizer. The round-robin tournament runs from Wednesday’s curtain-raiser in Montreal through the final on Feb. 20 in Boston.

Russia was excluded from the event amid its ongoing war in Ukraine. The International Ice Hockey Federation has also banned Russia and its ally Belarus from events through at least the 2025-26 calendar.

WATCH | Canada, U.S. players focused on hockey despite tarrif tensions:

Canada and U.S. players aren’t letting politics distract them ahead of 4 Nations Face-Off

The star-studded mini tournament is happening at a moment when tensions between Canada and the United States are high.

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