IIHF Excludes Russia and Belarus from World Hockey

Russia and Belarus will remain excluded from most major international ice hockey tournaments organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) during the 2026–2027 season. The federation said the decision was based on ongoing security risks and the need to protect the integrity of the sport.

As a result, Russia's national teams will not compete in the Men's World Championship, the World Junior Championship or the Under-18 World Championships for either men or women.

Belarus will remain excluded from the World Junior Championship, although the IIHF had previously announced plans to readmit the country to some lower-tier competitions, including the men's and women's Under-18 events.

The federation also said it would decide separately on Russia's potential participation in the 2027 Women's World Championship toward the end of next year, depending on the security situation at the time.

Russia and Belarus have been excluded from IIHF competitions since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Belarus sanctioned for supporting Moscow's war effort. The decision means Russian players in the National Hockey League (NHL) will also be unable to represent their country in IIHF tournaments.

(Reuters, mja)