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Russia’s reinstatement to International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) competition has already caused waves throughout the international hockey community.
The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) ruled Friday that Russia must be allowed into international ice hockey competition for the first time since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The decision overturned an IIHF ban, which was centered on the fact that including Russia would raise safety concerns.
The IIHF said last week it was “disappointed” by the decision, but that it will abide by the ruling. However, an increasing number of key countries participating in elite international hockey competition have refused to play games against Russia in the 2027 men’s World Championship if it participates.
The most notable nation is the hockey stronghold Finland, which won the 2026 men’s World Championship in Switzerland. The Finnish city of Turku is expected to host the 2028 men’s World Junior Championship, but has threatened withdrawal.
Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have also released statements that they vow to not play against Russia if they are included. And in Latvia, national law forbids sports teams from competing against Russia.
Germany, which will host the 2027 World Championship, hasn’t officially announced it will not play against Russia if it competes, but it is considering pulling out as the host nation due to security concerns and associated costs. Several countries hosting upcoming IIHF events, including Canada and Czechia, have also said they will restrict entry and visas for Russian athletes.
Additional countries may refuse to play against Russia or adopt restrictions. Finland is reportedly among the countries lobbying other participating nations to decline participation as well.
The decision has also sparked commercial backlash, including from Swedish workplace furniture manufacturer AJ Produkter, which has been a major sponsor of the men’s World Championship for the past 37 events. The company, whose logos have appeared on boards and referee jerseys, will not show its brand at the 2027 event.
The CAS’s decision also has the potential to affect the World Cup of Hockey in February 2028.
The event, which is returning for the first time since 2016, is jointly operated by the NHL and NHLPA, and is not governed by IIHF guidelines. That leaves it up to the league and players’ association to decide whether to include Russia in its eight-team competition field. It’s not yet clear whether the pushback to Russia’s reinstatement at IIHF events will affect the way the NHL and NHLPA will consider the country’s participation, and there is plenty of time to see how the global reaction shakes out to make any decisions. The NHL and NHLPA both did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
The IIHF ban on Russian competition was put in place Feb. 28, 2022, and has firmly lasted. (The sanctions also included Belarus, though it’s not clear at this point whether the country remains banned as well.) The policy is a stark contrast to the IIHF’s ban on Israel in 2024, which lasted about a week.
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