Ottawa Senators Miss Out on Hosting 2028 World Cup of Hockey
Ottawa’s bid to host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey has fallen short, according to a report from Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia. The city did not make the shortlist of potential host locations.
NHL Announces Host City Selection Process
The National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association initiated the host city selection process in June, inviting expressions of interest from cities across North America, Europe, and other international markets. Two cities will be chosen to host the tournament.
The #Sens made a bid for the 2028 World Cup, but didn’t make the shortlist.
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch)
Tournament Details
The 2028 World Cup of Hockey, scheduled for February, will feature eight nations. The tournament format will include a round-robin stage and quarter-final games played in two host cities. The semifinals and championship game will then be held in a single host city.
A total of 17 games will be played over 12 days, marking the return of the event for the first time since 2016 – the fourth iteration of the tournament overall.
Return of Best-on-Best Hockey
The NHL has recently prioritized best-on-best international hockey, bringing it back last year with the 4 Nations Face-Off. NHL players too returned to Olympic competition last month for the first time since 2014, and are scheduled to participate in the 2030 Winter Olympics.
Looking Ahead
The NHL envisions a regular schedule of best-on-best international hockey, alternating between the Olympics and the World Cup. As NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman outlined in February, We are moving forward with the World Cup two years after the Olympics in 2028. We will be asking for bids on hosting games. We couldn’t be more excited about making a reality Olympics–World Cups–Olympics–World Cups on a regular schedule of the best hockey players in the world representing their countries.
FAQ
- How many cities will host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey? Two cities will be selected as hosts.
- How many teams will participate in the tournament? Eight nations will compete.
- When is the tournament scheduled to take place? February 2028.
While Ottawa won’t be a host city for 2028, the renewed commitment to international hockey promises exciting competition for fans worldwide.