Joel Dryden · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 16, 2026 12:46 PM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

Alberta and Czechia will host the fourth edition of the World Cup of Hockey, a country-versus-country hockey tournament set to hit the ice in February 2028, the NHL announced Monday.

Calgary and Edmonton bested more than two dozen cities in the running in North America and Europe to jointly host the tournament, along with Prague.

At an announcement Monday at Rogers Place, home of the Edmonton Oilers, officials from the rival hockey cities highlighted the collaboration that had played out over many months.

"Hockey fans, Oilers fans, Flames fans, get ready. Something truly spectacular is about to happen here in Alberta," said Stu Ballantyne, president and chief operating officer of Rogers Place.

Team Canada poses with the trophy following their victory over Team Europe during World Cup of Hockey finals action in Toronto in 2016. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

It marks the return of the international tournament after more than a decade. The last time the tournament was held was in 2016, when Canada won the trophy.

That tournament, which was held in Toronto, was meant to be followed up by a 2020 edition.

But it was nixed amid the NHL's collective bargaining talks, and the World Cup's future was murky in the years that followed. The NHL and its players association backed off plans to hold an event in 2024.

Now, the tournament is part of the NHL's plan to hold best-on-best international competitions every four years, in between Winter Olympics tournaments.

Seven games during the World Cup of Hockey in 2028 will be played at Scotia Place in Calgary, the new home of the Calgary Flames. (Scotia Place Applicant Supplementary Materials)

Seven games will be played in Calgary at Scotia Place, the forthcoming new home of the Calgary Flames. The arena is set to open in fall 2027, meaning the World Cup of Hockey will serve as a showcase for the facility during its first full season.

The two semifinal games and the championship game will be played in Edmonton at Rogers Place.

Prague will host seven games at its O2 Arena.

Government assists

The provincial government committed $15 million to help secure the event, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said.

"The impact of this event will echo far beyond the rink, growing the visitor economy, creating jobs and showcasing our province to a global audience," Smith said.

Member of Parliament Eleanor Olszewski, left, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith watch the announcement of the 2028 World Cup of Hockey being hosted in Alberta, in Edmonton on March 16. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)

Smith also noted that the next world junior hockey championship is scheduled to take place in Edmonton and Red Deer from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 2027.

The federal government has also committed up to $8 million to support activities and programming tied to the event.

Eleanor Olszewski, the federal cabinet minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, said that investment is intended to help Calgary and Edmonton capitalize on tourism and hospitality.

"It will bring Canadians together and leave an impact on communities for years to come," she said.

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack speaks during the announcement of the 2028 World Cup of Hockey being hosted in Alberta, in Edmonton on March 16. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)

In a release, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Alberta has hosted dozens of Stanley Cup playoff games, all-star games and other major events.

"Simply, Alberta is a fitting place to bring together not only the best players in our game, but hockey fans from all over the world," Bettman said.

The World Cup of Hockey is projected to generate an estimated $375 million in economic impact for Alberta, the release states.

It's only been held three times before. The United States won the tournament in 1996, while Canada notched victories in 2004 and 2016.

The tournament follows the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025, also organized by the NHL and NHLPA. Its finale saw Canada defeat the United States 3-2 after Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored in overtime.

Participating nations will be announced at a later date.