Prague Secures 2028 World Cup Hosting; Tampere Misses Again

Aamulehti notes that the NHL has named Edmonton, Calgary and Prague as hosts for the 2028 World Cup, with Prague and Calgary hosting several opening-round games and Edmonton hosting the later rounds. The format is still unconfirmed, but a plan appears to include eight teams split into two groups, with three more teams to be named later. Aamulehti quotes Heikki Hietanen as saying that discussions are in their early stages and IIHF decisions are made year by year.

Aamulehti adds that Finland weighs boycott risk over Russia’s possible participation, noting that some observers would refuse participation if Russia is involved. Russia’s participation remains uncertain as political factors loom. The NHL Players Association has said it would like to see Russian players compete again, while the league emphasizes that any participation hinges on broader political issues. The paper also notes that Russia and Belarus are currently barred from IIHF activity over the war in Ukraine, though that does not bind the World Cup organizer NHL. Three more teams are to be named later, according to the report. It recalls that the World Cup has been held in 1996, 2004 and 2016, and that last year’s Four Nations Face Off served as a precursor to the World Cup’s return, while Finland will host the 2030 IIHF World Championship with Latvia, with Helsinki hosting games instead of Tampere.

Aamulehti describes Tampere’s bid as a disappointment, noting that Nokia Arena had hoped to host but the bid fell short, and Helsinki did not participate due to the tight schedule.

Finland also has other major events planned for 2028, including the IIHF World Junior Championship, underscoring the country’s ongoing role in hosting large hockey events. In related planning, Aamulehti notes that Finland is slated to host the 2030 IIHF World Championship with Latvia, with Helsinki hosting games instead of Tampere, and Prague has been cited as a potential Central European host for future events.