Edmonton, Calgary, and Prague Selected for 2028 World Cup of Hockey

Edmonton, Calgary, and Prague have officially been chosen as the host cities for the highly anticipated 2028 World Cup of Hockey. This announcement came on Monday from the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association during the league’s annual March general managers meeting in South Florida.

Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed excitement about the decision, stating, “We at the National Hockey League and our partners at the National Hockey League Players’ Association can’t wait to bring the World Cup of Hockey 2028 to three spectacular venues in three cities that shine when staging big events. We know Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague will serve as fantastic hosts for hockey fans from all over the globe, and that the greatest hockey players in the world will compete on a level that will make this event truly memorable.”

The selection process for host cities began with expressions of interest in June, followed by formal proposals from 25 locations in September, ultimately narrowing down the candidates. Edmonton, which served as one of the pandemic “bubbles” for the playoffs in 2020, and Calgary, which is set to unveil a new arena for the Flames in the fall of 2027, both bring significant hockey heritage to the table. Prague, known for its rich hockey culture, has previously hosted nine regular-season games, further solidifying its credentials as a host city.

The World Cup of Hockey returns as part of a strategy to feature an international competition involving the NHL’s top players every even-numbered year, alternating between the World Cup and the Olympics. The excitement for this event is palpable, especially following the thrilling Olympic Winter Games where NHL players made their return after a 12-year hiatus. NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh noted, “Coming off the amazing international hockey played at the recent Olympic Winter Games, NHL players are very excited to return to international hockey at the World Cup of Hockey 2028. Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague are cities with very deep roots in hockey, and the games will be played in three hockey venues that will be amongst the best in the world.”

The last World Cup of Hockey was held in 2016, with previous tournaments occurring in 2004 and 1996. The irregular scheduling has often been attributed to labor disputes. The upcoming event is planned to feature an eight-team tournament with a total of 17 games, set to take place in February 2028.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.