Gary Bettman: Russia Status for 2028 World Cup of Hockey Undecided

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stated that 'time will tell' regarding Russia's participation in the 2028 World Cup of Hockey.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed that no definitive ruling has been reached regarding Russia's involvement in the 2028 international showcase, stating simply that "time will tell" when questioned about the nation's eligibility. This tournament, scheduled to follow the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, currently lacks a finalized roster of participating federations. The league executive’s remarks emphasize a wait-and-see approach as the professional hockey calendar expands to include more best-on-best competitions over the next four years.

While the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off features only the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland, the subsequent global event is intended to be a broader competition. The exclusion of Russian athletes from recent international play has created a significant gap in the competitive landscape, given that elite talents like Nikita Kucherov, Kirill Kaprizov, and Artemi Panarin continue to lead the NHL scoring charts. Bettman’s refusal to commit to a timeline suggests that geopolitical factors remain the primary hurdle for the league's planning committee.

This upcoming World Cup serves as a critical pillar in the joint agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association to establish a consistent biennial cycle of play. Under this framework, the league alternates between Olympic participation and self-hosted premier tournaments. However, the logistical arrangements for the 2028 iteration remain in the preliminary stages while the commissioner monitors global developments. The absence of a formal invitation for the Russian team at this juncture keeps the final format in a state of flux.

Player representatives have frequently voiced their desire for a truly inclusive format that includes all the world's top-tier talent. Despite this pressure from the union, the NHL office maintains that the decision-making process cannot be rushed. The 2028 competition represents the first full-scale version of the event since 2016, which featured a Team Europe and a Team North America U23 squad rather than a strictly national-team format. Bettman’s current stance indicates a preference for flexibility as the sports world navigates the complexities of international sanctions and eligibility requirements.

As the 2024-25 regular season progresses, the focus remains on the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, yet the shadow of the future tournament looms over long-term marketing and broadcast negotiations. The potential revenue generated by a field featuring a full Russian roster is substantial, but the league has prioritized alignment with international sporting standards. For now, the status of the Russian hockey federation remains the most prominent unresolved variable in the NHL’s ambitious six-year plan for global expansion and elite competition.