Sports · Other Sports · 1 hr ago
CAS orders IIHF to admit Russian teams to 2026/27 tournaments
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered the IIHF to admit Russian national teams to its competitions in the 2026/27 season.
The ruling applies to five tournaments, including the men’s and women’s world championships and junior events.
Russian teams have been barred from IIHF events since 2022, after Russia began its war against Ukraine.
The hockey federation had kept its teams training and competing at home while challenging the ban.
The IIHF says it will comply with the ruling, though it has expressed disappointment and says changes to tournament formats, schedules, travel and security will be needed.
The court left the format of Russia’s return open, including whether teams compete with national symbols or in a neutral status.
The IIHF will now decide how and when to make the changes, working with national federations and tournament organizers.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to admit Russian national teams to its tournaments in the 2026/27 season.
The ruling takes effect immediately and concerns five tournaments in 2027.
The IIHF said it would comply, while expressing disappointment and warning that changes would create organizational difficulties.
The IIHF has said it considers Russia’s exclusion necessary for safety and the integrity of competitions.
The Russian teams were barred from IIHF events in 2022.
- Who
- The Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation to admit Russian national teams.
- What
- Russian teams must be allowed to compete in IIHF tournaments in the 2026/27 season.
- When
- The ruling was announced on October 30, 2026, and takes effect immediately.
- Where
- The ruling applies to IIHF competitions, including tournaments in Germany, Canada, the Czech Republic and the United States.
- Why
- CAS ordered the teams’ return after their exclusion; the IIHF has cited safety and competition integrity as reasons for keeping them out.
Russian teams and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
Participation
Russian teams and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation
The Russian federation welcomed the ruling and said it was final and not subject to appeal.
International Ice Hockey Federation
The IIHF said it disagreed with immediate admission and remained concerned about safety and competition integrity.
Implementation
Russian teams and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation
Russian hockey commentator Konstantin Nuzhdenov said the ruling was binding and that organizational difficulties were not a real obstacle.
International Ice Hockey Federation
The IIHF said returning the teams would require changes to participant lists, formats, schedules, logistics and safety arrangements.
Russian national teams were barred from IIHF competitions after Russia’s war against Ukraine began.
The IIHF disciplinary committee found the council’s safety rationale for excluding Russia to be untenable, according to Konstantin Nuzhdenov.
The IIHF council blocked Russian participation, according to Nuzhdenov.
CAS ordered the IIHF to admit Russian teams to competitions in the 2026/27 season.
- Ruling
- CAS ordered admission to IIHF competitions in the 2026/27 season
- Effective date
- Immediately
- Tournaments covered
- Five
- Men’s world championship
- Germany, May 14–30, 2027
- Youth world championship
- Canada, December 26, 2026–January 5, 2027
- Initial exclusion
- 2022
4 sources
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What people are saying
We are disappointed by the Court’s ruling.
We seriously prepared to defend the interests of Russian hockey in CAS.
The CAS decision is binding.