The National Hockey League (NHL) has revealed the host cities for the upcoming 2028 World Cup, selecting Prague, Calgary, and Edmonton as the venues for the prestigious tournament. Each host city will accommodate multiple games, with both Prague and Calgary scheduled to host six group-stage matches alongside one playoff game, while the semifinals and finals will take place in Edmonton. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed confidence in the chosen cities, labeling them as fantastic hosts for the global hockey audience and assuring fans that the best players will compete at an unforgettable level during the tournament.

Tampere, which also submitted a bid to host matches, faced disappointment once again as it lost out to Prague, which boasts an impressive capacity of over 17,000 seats. Helsinki did not participate in the bidding process this time, citing a tight timeline for applications. This decision marks a significant setback for Tampere's Nokia Arena, which aimed to host international hockey events and showcase its facilities on a global stage. The arena and the city have been eager to enhance their reputation in the world of ice hockey, making this news particularly disheartening.

Additionally, this isn't the first setback for Tampere in recent times. It was recently revealed that while Finland will co-host the 2030 World Championship alongside Latvia, the games will not take place in Tampere, but rather in Helsinki instead. This further illustrates the challenges faced by Tampere in securing high-profile hockey events, raising questions about future opportunities and the long-term impact on the city's ambition to be recognized as a central hub for ice hockey in Finland and beyond.