World Cup of Hockey 2028 to Build on International Intrigue from Olympics, 4 Nations

Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague selected as host cities for the next best-on-best hockey tournament

Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:08pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The NHL and NHLPA have announced that the 2028 World Cup of Hockey will be held in Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague, building on the excitement and competitiveness seen at the recent Olympic men's hockey tournament in Milan. The World Cup will feature 8 teams, an improvement over the 12-team Olympic format that led to some lopsided preliminary round matchups. The semifinals and final will take place in Edmonton, while the preliminary rounds will be split between Calgary and Prague. The Canada-U.S. rivalry is expected to be a highlight, with the two powerhouses having met in close finals at the last two best-on-best tournaments.

Why it matters

The World Cup of Hockey provides an opportunity for the world's elite hockey players to compete against each other in a best-on-best format, showcasing the incredible skill and competitiveness of the sport. After successful recent tournaments at the Olympics and 4 Nations Face-Off, the World Cup will build on that momentum and continue to grow the game globally, particularly the NHL's own property that it can market freely.

The details

The World Cup will have 8 teams, an improvement over the 12-team Olympic format that led to some lopsided preliminary round matchups. Four teams will play in Prague and four in Calgary, with the top teams from each group advancing directly to the semifinals in Edmonton. The second- and third-place teams from each group will play an elimination game for the remaining semifinal spots. The past two best-on-best tournaments have come down to overtime thrillers between Canada and the U.S., with the rivalry between the two hockey powers continuing to elevate the level of play.

  • The 2028 World Cup of Hockey will take place two years after the 2026 Olympic men's hockey tournament in Milan.
  • The 2028 World Cup semifinals and final will be held in Edmonton.

The players

Bill Daly

NHL Deputy Commissioner, who stated the hockey quality will be "really good, right away" at the World Cup.

Steve Yzerman

Detroit Red Wings general manager, who played for Canada in the 1996 World Cup and has been an executive for Canada at multiple Olympics, believes the Canada-U.S. rivalry is "pushing Canada to be better, which is going to elevate the play."

Gary Bettman

NHL Commissioner, who said the competitive balance and skill level of elite players is why the public response to these best-on-best tournaments has been "extraordinary."

Marty Walsh

NHLPA executive director, who stated each best-on-best event builds up to the next, with rosters evolving and new young stars emerging.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I think what you saw in the Olympics is an indication of what you'll see in the World Cup of Hockey.”

— Bill Daly, NHL Deputy Commissioner

“It's pushing Canada to be better, which is going to elevate the play. It's incredible. You've got the best players in the world on these two countries. The 4 Nations was incredibly exciting. The Olympics was tremendous hockey, and I think the World Cup will only continue to add to that.”

— Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings General Manager

“When you look at the extraordinary skill that our elite players have, it's the reason that the competitive balance is so strong in our season and it's so strong in international competition. I don't think there's anything that compares, which is why the response from the public has been extraordinary.”

— Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner

“You're going to have different players on these teams. There's a lot of young stars that didn't make the Olympic team that will be on the World Cup of Hockey team.”

— Marty Walsh, NHLPA Executive Director

What’s next

The 2028 World Cup of Hockey will take place two years after the 2026 Olympic men's hockey tournament in Milan, providing a regular schedule of best-on-best international hockey competitions.

The takeaway

The World Cup of Hockey will build on the excitement and competitiveness seen at recent best-on-best tournaments, featuring the world's elite hockey players competing in a format that should avoid the lopsided matchups of the Olympic preliminary rounds. With the Canada-U.S. rivalry continuing to elevate the level of play, and new young stars emerging, the World Cup promises to be a must-see event for hockey fans around the globe.