Last week, as recorded on NHLrumors.com, the NHL will continue to play the 2028 World Cup hockey, but it will be played without IIHF’s participation. From the outset, the NHL and NHLPA announced that they would bring back World Cup hockey during the four-country confrontation.
No one knows what the format of World Cup hockey will be. But one thing is for sure: It won’t be like the last hockey cup. There will be eight countries playing games, not six countries and two temporary teams. However, the team of this competition may be adjusted.
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said @siriusxmnhl and @dennistfp and @thefourthperiod This qualifier will be in World Cup hockey. It won’t happen in 2028
— Jim Burlinger (@jimbiringer) August 26, 2025
During the NHL European Media Tour, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly joined Dave Pagnotta and Dennis Bernstein of Sirius XM NHL Network. Daly was asked about the upcoming World Cup hockey, the development of the bidding process and what plans are for 2028 and beyond.
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nhlrumors.com Transcription
Dave Pagnotta: “But when we were at the themed World Cup, I believe you have started to accept, or have started to challenge the host city. Can you give us a quick look at the vision of the format? We are going to go back to the start of the World Cup with different cities and then in one position and the final process?
Bill Daly: “So, “so, we actually were in a World Cup hockey game in 2006 (2004) when we had a European pool. But, yes. But yes, the intention is several differences.
We will have a European swimming pool, we will play in a European city, we will have a North American swimming pool in a North American city. Think we feel that now is just a North American city that will eventually hold semi-finals and finals. I think we will have two quarterfinals in Europe. As you said, we are now accepting expressions of interest, currently in the North American and European markets.
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In this process, we get along very far. We will then have a formal bidding process among the finalists, and we hope to make announcements on some market and venue at some point in the upcoming regular season process. ”
Likewise, as NHLRumors.com records, the key point is the Russian factor. We know that the standoff between the four countries is the NHL and NHLPA incident. However, given that Sweden and Finland don’t want them there, it will be cancelled if Russia can participate. The same could happen if the political climate remains unchanged.
There is a reason that the IIHF and the International Olympic Committee have banned Russian athletes from participating in the World Championships and the Olympics. Not only did Sweden and Finland not participate, but other countries such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia also surrendered. Fair or not, that’s what’s happening. If the NHL invites Russia in 2028, it’s their fear: those hockey countries may not be participating if things don’t change.
But this is a few years’ journey. As Daly said, there will be a European host country and North American host city, but on the way, more cities may be involved, similar to 1996 and 2004.
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