The 2028 World Cup of Hockey: A Global Spectacle or a Missed Opportunity?
The NHL’s recent announcement that Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague will host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey has sent ripples through the sports world. On the surface, it’s a bold move—a 13-day tournament featuring the world’s best players, played on NHL-sized rinks with NHL rules. But if you take a step back and think about it, this event is about far more than just hockey. It’s a statement about the NHL’s global ambitions, its relationship with international audiences, and its willingness to shape the future of the sport.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the NHL’s decision to host the tournament in both North America and Europe. Calgary and Edmonton are obvious choices, given their hockey-mad fanbases and state-of-the-art arenas. But Prague? That’s a detail that I find especially interesting. By including a European city, the NHL is signaling its intent to tap into untapped markets. Europe has long been a breeding ground for hockey talent, yet the NHL has historically struggled to engage these audiences beyond the occasional preseason game. This move feels like a calculated gamble—one that could either solidify the NHL’s global presence or expose its limitations.
From my perspective, the choice of Prague also raises questions about accessibility. Will European fans, who are accustomed to their own leagues and traditions, embrace an NHL-branded event? Or will it feel like an American export, out of touch with local cultures? Personally, I think the NHL is walking a fine line here. While the inclusion of Prague is a smart strategic move, it also risks diluting the tournament’s identity. After all, the World Cup of Hockey is meant to be a celebration of global talent, not a showcase of NHL dominance.
One thing that immediately stands out is the absence of gimmicky teams like we saw in 2016. Remember Team Europe and Team North America? Those were fun experiments, but they felt more like placeholders than legitimate contenders. This time around, the NHL is sticking to traditional national teams, which I believe is the right call. It adds authenticity to the tournament and ensures that every game matters. But here’s where it gets tricky: the NHL hasn’t announced the participating nations yet, and the elephant in the room is Russia.
What many people don’t realize is that Russia’s participation is a political minefield. The IIHF has suspended Russia due to the war in Ukraine, but the NHL isn’t bound by that decision. Commissioner Gary Bettman’s vague statement—“We’re going to see how things develop”—feels like a diplomatic dodge. On one hand, excluding Russia would be a moral stand against the war. On the other, it would mean sidelining some of the world’s best players and alienating a significant fan base. This raises a deeper question: Can sports truly be apolitical? Or is the NHL’s hesitation a sign that it prioritizes profit over principle?
In my opinion, the NHL’s control over the tournament is both its greatest strength and its biggest weakness. Unlike the Olympics, the league gets to dictate everything—from broadcast rights to revenue streams. Bettman’s quip about not being “control freaks” is laughable. The NHL is clearly positioning itself as the sole architect of this event, and that’s a double-edged sword. While it ensures a high-quality product, it also risks alienating partners and fans who feel left out of the decision-making process.
What this really suggests is that the NHL is playing the long game. By hosting best-on-best tournaments every two years, the league is trying to create a sustainable international ecosystem. But here’s the catch: will fans care? The 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 was a decent start, but it didn’t exactly set the world on fire. The 2028 World Cup needs to be more than just another tournament—it needs to be an event. And that means thinking beyond the ice.
Personally, I think the NHL should lean into the cultural aspects of the host cities. Calgary and Edmonton can showcase Canada’s hockey heritage, while Prague can bring a unique European flavor. Imagine street festivals, fan zones, and cross-cultural exchanges that go beyond the games. That’s how you create a global spectacle.
If you take a step back and think about it, the 2028 World Cup of Hockey is a microcosm of the NHL’s broader challenges. It’s about balancing tradition and innovation, local appeal and global reach, profit and principle. Will it succeed? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: this tournament is far more than just a series of hockey games. It’s a test of the NHL’s vision for the future—and I, for one, can’t wait to see how it plays out.
