The National Hockey League is returning to the international stage. For the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, Calgary and Edmonton will host North American games, while Prague will serve as Europe’s site.
Newly constructed Scotia Place, home of the Calgary Flames starting in 2027, and Rogers Place, home of the Edmonton Oilers, will stage seven games each in a round-robin format, with Edmonton hosting the semi-finals and final. Prague’s O2 Arena will host seven games in Europe.
The NHL first announced the tournament’s return last year, aiming to establish a regular cycle of international competitions that complements Olympic participation for NHL players. Under the new plan, World Cups and Olympic seasons will alternate every two years, giving top players consistent opportunities to compete on the global stage.
“Nothing matches the passion, skill, and excitement of hockey’s best-on-best coming together to represent their countries,†NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. “We can’t wait to bring the World Cup of Hockey to three spectacular venues that shine in staging major events.â€
International NHL competitions were frequent in the 1990s and 2000s but fell off after the league stopped sending players to the Olympics in 2014 and following the last World Cup in 2016. Limited options—primarily the IIHF Men’s World Championships—were complicated by overlaps with the Stanley Cup playoffs. The 2025 4 Nations Face-Off marked the first NHL player-involved international event since 2016, featuring stars from Finland, Sweden, Canada, and the U.S.
The 2028 World Cup will be NHL-exclusive: only players under NHL contracts may participate, with NHL rules, rink sizes, and officials in place. Russia remains banned from international play following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with the NHL and IIHF extending the prohibition through 2026 due to security concerns.
The 2028 edition represents both a return to tradition and a forward-looking strategy for international ice hockey, reaffirming the NHL’s commitment to showcasing top-tier talent on a global stage.