After a 12-year hiatus, the World Cup of Hockey will return in February 2028, with the NHL and NHL Players Association aiming to establish it as a regular fixture alongside the Winter Olympics. The announcement came in Montreal, ahead of the Four Nations Face-Off, a 2026 Olympic tune-up tournament replacing the NHL All-Star Game.
“International best-on-best competition is very important to our players,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. “With this tournament and the World Cup’s return to regular rotation, we take a major step in our joint commitment to international hockey.”
While teams and dates are yet to be confirmed, a bidding process for host cities will begin in the coming months. The 2028 World Cup will follow NHL rules, use NHL-sized rinks, and feature NHL officials, distinguishing it from traditional international tournaments.
The United States won the inaugural 1996 World Cup, but Canada has dominated since, lifting the trophy in 2004 and 2016. With the NHL returning to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, players like Erik Karlsson welcome the renewed commitment to global competition: “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 revival of the World Cup of Hockey marks a significant step in strengthening international hockey’s future.
