Eight nations will compete in the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, staged as an invitational with a later qualification round. Europe hosts a European pool and North America a North American pool, with semifinals and final anchored in one NA city. Russia’s potential return looms as a wildcard: current talk stresses that if Russia participates, Sweden, Finland, and possibly Czechia or Slovakia could bow out, reshaping rosters and fantasy value years ahead. Markets in Europe and North America are being scouted for bids, with expansion possibilities down the road.