IIHF re-affirms ban for Russia, Belarus in major international events in 2026-27
The International Ice Hockey Federation has made a final decision regarding Russia and Belarus’ participation next season.
On Thursday, the IIHF Council announced that, after re-analyzing the Russian Ice Hockey Federation’s request to enter a Russian team in major international competition, the council reaffirmed the ban on Russia competing in IIHF tournaments during the 2026-27 season.
The RIHF specifically requested permission to enter teams in the 2027 Men’s World Championship, Women’s World Championship, World Junior Championship, as well as the Under-18 Men’s and Women’s championships. The IIHF specifically denied Russia the right to play in four of those events. The one left out was the Women’s Worlds, since that tournament has been moved to November moving forward. The IIHF stated that the Council will conduct a separate review of whether Russia’s women’s team will be allowed to compete in the 2027 tournament in November of this year.
The IIHF noted that the ban follows “considering safety, security, operational feasibility and sport integrity.”
Also, the IIHF officially confirmed that Belarus will be allowed to compete in three international tournaments next season – the U-18 Men’s Worlds, the Division IV Women’s Worlds and the U-18 Division III Women’s Worlds. The Belarusian Ice Hockey Association also requested the opportunity to play in the Men’s Worlds and World Juniors, but was denied, once again citing safety and security concerns.
Belarus will field teams in IIHF events for the first time since 2022, when the organization banned both Belarus and Russia following the latter’s invasion of Ukraine, which was backed by the Belarusian government. It seemed that a path was being paved for both countries to be fully admitted to the IIHF, as the International Olympic Committee lifted the suspension of Russian athletes and advised that Belarusian athletes should no longer be prevented from competing in international competitions.
The format for the tournaments in which Belarus has been approved to compete is in question. According to a report in May, Latvia won’t play any games against Belarus at the Men’s U-18s. Also, Lithuania’s hockey federation announced that its players won’t participate in the Women’s DIII U-18s if Belarus plays.