Imagining the Positive Impact of a Women's World Cup of Hockey

The IIHF acknowledges a women's World Cup of Hockey is under consideration, and as an event, it would be a significant boost for the global growth of the game.

The Women's World Cup of Soccer kicks off later this month in Australia and New Zealand with 32 teams from across the globe coming together to compete.

For many nations, the motivation to qualify for the World Cup is a key determinant in funding, with increased resources typically provided leading up to these events. In women's hockey, where athletes and programs are still underfunded compared to men's counterparts across the globe. 

A women's World Cup of Hockey, held every four years, splitting the gap of the Olympics to occur two years away from the Olympic Games, would provide motivation for nations to increase funding for women's hockey, and could have a deep impact on the game beyond women's hockey's current powerhouse nations.

According to the IIHF, a women's World Cup event is one of the developments under consideration.

Matching soccer's 32 team format would not be feasible in women's hockey to start, but a 16 team tournament featuring four groups would provide balance and a competitive format.

Currently in the IIHF rankings, Austria, Slovakia, China, Italy, and Netherlands are teams 14 through 18 in the world. Here's what a four group tournament could look like:

While there would undoubtedly be lopsided games, there would also be fierce competition for the second position out of each Group and it would provide nations typically locked in the World Championship Division 1A tournament exposure to top talent to measure their development.

It would also allow some of the World's best players from countries outside the top eight nations including Nela Lopusanova (Slovakia), Theresa Schafzahl and Anna Meixner (Austria), Chloe Aurard (France), Emma Bergesen and Ena Nystrom (Norway), Nadia Mattivi (Italy) and Leah Lum and Hannah Miller (China) exposure on a grand scale. 

While professional women's hockey leagues including the now former PHF, and SDHL made massive strides in supporting the development of hockey across the globe, international play remains one of the main opportunities for many women to face elite competition, and a World Cup would provide that opportunity more regularly. 

Increased funding opportunities, increased international exposure, and increased competition for women's hockey could all be resulting boosts from a women's World Cup.