Court orders IIHF to readmit Russian teams to five events
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation to let Russian national teams return to five tournaments in the 2026-27 season, overturning the federation's exclusion after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The events include the World Junior Championship in Canada from 26 December, and the men's World Championship in Germany from 13 to 30 May 2027. The court found the IIHF's safety and security concerns were not supported by sufficient evidence. The IIHF said it was disappointed. Ukraine called the return unacceptable, and the federations of Norway, Denmark and Sweden said they will refuse to play Russia at the Germany tournament, citing safety and geopolitical tensions.
Key facts
- If Russia competes, organizers may have to drop the lowest-ranked team, Ukraine, from the world championship.
- The court ruled no alternative measures such as a neutrality regime are needed within IIHF events.
- Ukraine qualified for the 16-nation World Championship for the first time in 20 years.
- The International Olympic Committee ended its ban on the Russian Olympic Committee in July.
- Norway, Denmark and Sweden will play their other matches at the tournament as planned.
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Why it matters
The ruling determines whether Russian teams compete at major international hockey events for the first time since 2022, and several federations now say they will boycott matches against them.
What changed
First published from Yahoo Sports, Anadolu Agency, Meduza, CNA and The Independent