The World Cup of Hockey is set to make its long-awaited comeback in February 2028, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players’ Association Executive Director Marty Walsh confirmed Wednesday ahead of Canada’s matchup with Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Replacing the traditional all-star weekend, the tournament’s location remains unconfirmed as the league prepares to open a bidding process for host cities and venues in the coming months.
The last World Cup of Hockey took place in 2016 in Toronto, featuring eight teams, including an under-23 Team North America and Team Europe. Previous editions in 1996 and 2004 saw the U.S. and Canada claim victories, with Canada also winning in 2016.
Bettman reiterated his commitment to establishing a best-on-best international tournament every two years. NHL players are set to return to the Olympics in 2026 after being absent from the 2018 and 2022 Games.
The ongoing 4 Nations Face-Off between Canada, the U.S., Sweden, and Finland serves as a prelude to Olympic competition. Running through Feb. 20 in Boston, the tournament excludes Russia due to its ongoing war in Ukraine, aligning with the International Ice Hockey Federation’s ban on Russia and Belarus through at least 2025-26.
Source: Swifteradio.com
