IIHF re-evaluating Russia’s participation into international tournaments
The International Ice Hockey Federation released a statement Friday indicating they are re-evaluating their ban on Russian national and club teams to its sanctioned events for the 2026-27 season.
The #IIHF has issued an update regarding Russia’s participation in the 2026–2027 Championship season. Read the full statement: iihf.com/en/news/74746/…
Russia, along with Belarus, have been banned from IIHF-sanctioned competition since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Last January, the IIHF Council determined it would not reintegrate Russian teams for the upcoming season, but the Russian Ice Hockey Federation appealed the decision to the IIHF Disciplinary Board.
Earlier this week, the board issued its decision on the appeal and annulled the council’s move from last January. However, they confirmed that it does not mean Russia will be automatically added to future tournaments and events.
⚡️The IIHF’s Disciplinary Committee has upheld the RIHF’s complaint with regard to the exclusion of Russian national teams in the 2026/2027 season. More details 📝: en.fhr.ru/news/item/1205… #RussiaHockey
“The Disciplinary Board determined that the previous decision could not be maintained in its current form, and as such has sent the matter back to the IIHF Council to re-analyze based on safety, security, operational, and sporting plans,” the IIHF press release said.
The council will gather any and all relevant information and make a decision on Russia participation in the IIHF on an event-by-event basis.
On Thursday, the IIHF announced that Belarus would be reinstated for three competitions during the 2026-27 season: the Under-18 men’s World Championship, the women’s Division 4, as well as the U-18 women’s Division 3B event.
Russia was absent from the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in 2025, and its NHL players haven’t participated in a Winter Olympic tournament since 2014, when the games were held in Sochi.