Hockey Court Orders Russia Back to World Championship

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ordered Russia to rejoin international ice hockey competitions, ending a four-year suspension. The ruling came on Friday and directly overturns decisions made by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The CAS panel found that the IIHF lacked sufficient evidence to support its security concerns regarding Russian teams. The decision applies to the 2026-27 season, specifically restoring Russia’s eligibility for the men’s and women’s world championships and the world juniors tournament. Russia also missed this year’s Olympic events but is now cleared for future international play under the IIHF banner.

IIHF President Franz Reindl, whose home country of Germany hosts the next men’s world championship, said the federation will implement the ruling responsibly. He noted that changes to participation affect players, teams, and host cities, and that the organization will seek practical solutions. The IIHF expressed disappointment, stating it maintains that its initial decisions were necessary to protect participant safety and competition integrity.

The return creates immediate logistical challenges for the tournament in Germany, where Ukraine has also qualified. The draw has already been determined, so adding Russia would create uneven groups and extend the tournament length. Removing a qualified team to make space risks a backlash, particularly if that team is Ukraine, which ended a 20-year wait to qualify for the men’s worlds. Ukrainian federation officials disagreed with the ruling and argued that security concerns have only intensified since 2022.

Other national federations reacted with disappointment. German hockey federation chairman Frank H. Lutz said allowing Russia in has security, political, and financial consequences for the hosts. Swedish Ice Hockey Association chairman Anders Larsson told news agency TT that a boycott is not on the table, while Finland indicated individual players could opt out of tournaments featuring Russia. A Hockey Canada spokesperson said the organization is in contact with the IIHF to understand the implications of the decision.

The first event where Russia could return is the men’s world junior championship in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, starting on December 26. Other affected events include the women’s world championship in November 2027 and the under-18 championships in Minnesota and the Czech Republic. The CAS ruling did not specify whether Russia must play as a neutral team without national symbols, leaving those organizational details for the IIHF to determine.