Breaking: NHL Officially Announces the Next World Cup of Hockey
As we get set to watch the 4 Nations Cup, the NHL and NHLPA have officially announced the revival of the World Cup of Hockey, to take place three years from now in February of 2028.
The World Cup of Hockey will return in February 2028 for a best-on-best international tournament jointly organized by the @NHL and @NHLPA.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 12, 2025
A bidding process for host cities and venues is expected to open in the coming months.
More information: https://t.co/L5IIkDWvut pic.twitter.com/7CGvfXEd2G
The best-on-best international tournament will feature at least eight teams, and commissioner Gary Bettman says his goal is to have the Olympics and World Cup rotate every two years starting with the 2026 Olympics.
The World Cup of Hockey will be played on NHL-sized rinks using NHL rules and officiated by NHL officials, according to the official news release.
“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,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “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.”
The World Cup of Hockey previously took place in 1996, 2004 and 2016. The United States won the first incarnation, while Canada won it in '04 and '16.
