The National Hockey League (NHL) and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) have announced the return of the World Cup of Hockey, scheduled for 2028, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced today.
Gary Bettman officially announces the 2028 World Cup of Hockey.
Olympics and World Cup are going to rotate every two years starting in 2026 Olympics, 2028 WCH, 2030 Olympics, 2032 WCH, etc.
Locations TBD, bids will be solicited by NHL/NHLPA.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 12, 2025
The decision is part of a broader strategy to alternate the tournament with the Winter Olympics, starting with the 2026 Olympics, followed by the World Cup in 2028, and continuing this rotation every two years. This structured approach ensures that international hockey remains a consistent feature in the hockey calendar, allowing fans to see the sport’s top talent represent their countries on a global stage.
The World Cup of Hockey, first held in 1996, is an international tournament featuring top national teams. Unlike the Olympic tournament and Ice Hockey World Championships, which are governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the World Cup is organized by the NHL and NHLPA. The tournament ensures full participation of NHL players, as it takes place before the league’s preseason, making it a highly competitive and star-studded event.
The last World Cup, held in 2016, included standard national teams- Canada, the U.S., Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the Czech Republic- but also featured two hybrid teams: Team Europe, consisting of players from smaller European nations, and Team North America, made up of 23-and-under players from Canada and the U.S. While the unique format added an interesting dynamic, it also led to criticism for straying from traditional international competition. The 2028 tournament will return to a standard national team format, featuring at least eight participating countries.
World Cup of Hockey is coming back in 2028, Gary Bettman says.
Details:
-Cities can bid to host games, could see games played in Europe
-at least 8 teams, no gimmick teams like in 2016
-plan to play it every 4 years and also go to Olympics— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) February 12, 2025
Another change for 2028 is the possibility of games being played outside North America. Cities will be able to bid to host games, which indicates that some matches could take place in Europe. This move reflects the NHL’s growing commitment to expanding its global presence and bringing top-tier international hockey to a wider audience.
Ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, the NHL is hosting the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February 2025, featuring Canada, the U.S., Sweden, and Finland. The event serves as a preview of high-level international play leading into the Olympics and helps national teams build chemistry ahead of the bigger stage.
#4Nations Face-Off kicks off TONIGHT! 🥳
Which team will be the last one standing? 💬
📺: Canada vs. Sweden TONIGHT at 8p ET on @NHL_On_TNT, @SportsonMax, @Sportsnet and @TVASports pic.twitter.com/PMWOahm3iV
— NHL (@NHL) February 12, 2025
The NHL and NHLPA are currently working out the final details for the 2028 World Cup, aiming to establish a long-term, sustainable model for international hockey. The alternating schedule with the Olympics is designed to provide consistent opportunities for NHL players to represent their countries while maintaining a structured international competition cycle. If successful, this format could become a defining part of international hockey for years to come.