Russia ramps up pressure on Gary Bettman over 2028 World Cup comeback

An Instagram post from Hockey Worldwide pushed the issue back into the spotlight, pointing to a report that Czechia, Finland, and Sweden would not take part if Russia is included in the tournament.

That changes the tone around the event in a hurry. What should've been a big win for the NHL's international calendar is now turning into a standoff over who will actually show up.

The league has already confirmed the 2028 World Cup will be played in Prague, Calgary, and Edmonton. Prague is set to be one of the host cities, which makes Czechia's position impossible to ignore.

This isn't a fringe hockey story. Sweden and Finland are loaded with NHL talent every time best-on-best play comes around, and Czechia carries major weight as both a hockey nation and a host.

If those 3 countries hold their ground, the NHL has a real problem on its hands. A World Cup missing that much elite talent would feel incomplete no matter who else is in the field.

Bettman already signaled that the league would watch the broader international response on Russia and Belarus before locking in a final decision for 2028.

That leaves the NHL stuck between 2 priorities. It wants the strongest tournament possible, but it also needs an event that federations, players, and fans will buy into.

For NHL fans, that's the whole story here. This isn't just about politics off the ice. It's about whether the league can deliver a true best-on-best event without blowing up the field before puck drop.

Because if Russia is invited and top nations walk away, the tournament loses a huge piece of its juice. And if Russia stays out, the debate won't disappear either.

Either way, Bettman is heading toward a decision that will shape the event long before the opening game. That's why fans are already watching this one closely.