Edmonton, Calgary, and Prague to Co-Host 2028 World Cup of Hockey

The 2028 World Cup of Hockey will be jointly hosted by Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta, Canada, and Prague, Czech Republic, the National Hockey League (NHL) announced on Monday, March 16, 2026. [Sportsnet] This marks the tournament’s return after a hiatus since 2016, when Canada won the championship on home ice in Toronto.

Tournament Format and Venues

The round-robin portion of the tournament will be split between Calgary and Prague. Semifinal and final games will be held in Edmonton. [TSN] Action in Prague will take place at O2 Arena, while Edmonton will host at Rogers Place, the home of the Edmonton Oilers. Calgary’s games will be played at the newly constructed Scotia Place, the future home of the Calgary Flames, slated to open in fall 2027. [CBC News]

Economic and Community Impact

The event is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the host cities and showcase Alberta on a global stage. According to Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, hosting the tournament is “a chance to celebrate that proud tradition on a global stage.” [CBC News] The fresh $1.2 billion event centre in Calgary, Scotia Place, is anticipated to be a “spectacular, first-class, state-of-the-art arena” and will be able to host concerts and other events in addition to hockey. [Sportsnet]

Tournament Details

The 2028 World Cup of Hockey is planned as an eight-team tournament. [TSN] The NHL and NHLPA are planning an expanded tournament. The inclusion of Russia remains uncertain. [Sportsnet] The tournament will take place in February 2028. [CBC News]

Recent International Hockey Competition

The announcement follows recent best-on-best international hockey events, including Canada’s victory at the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 and the United States’ Olympic gold medal win in February 2026. [Sportsnet]