Sports · Other Sports · 53 mins ago
Canada says Russia will be barred from the 2026 World Juniors
Canada says Russian players will be barred from the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship, Prime Minister Mark Carney said.
The tournament, for top men’s players under 20, is scheduled to begin on December 26 in Alberta.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned Russia’s hockey ban, which had been in place since the country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The ruling means the International Ice Hockey Federation must reinstate Russian teams in its competitions.
Six European countries say they will not play Russia while the war continues: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Latvia and the Czech Republic.
Their boycott puts pressure on hockey organizers, while Canada says its decision is its own and that Russian and Belarusian athletes cannot represent their countries in Canada.
The tournament’s plans remain uncertain as organizers consider how to respond to the ban and boycott.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Russia will not be allowed to compete at the 2026 world junior hockey tournament in Alberta.
He said Russian and Belarusian athletes will not represent their countries in Canada while the war in Ukraine continues.
The tournament begins on Dec. 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer, according to CBC.
Several European hockey federations have said their teams will refuse to play Russia.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the International Ice Hockey Federation must reinstate Russian teams, beginning with the world juniors.
- Who
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the decision; Russian players will not be allowed to compete for their country.
- What
- Canada will bar Russia from the 2026 world junior hockey tournament. Carney also said Belarusian athletes will not represent their country in Canada while the war continues.
- When
- Carney made the announcement on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The tournament begins Dec. 26.
- Where
- The tournament is in Alberta, with games in Edmonton and Red Deer.
- Why
- Carney said Russia and Belarus are supporting the war in Ukraine and that the ban would remain while the war continues.
Canada
Court of Arbitration for Sport
Eligibility
Canada
Canada says Russian athletes will not compete for their country at the world juniors while the war in Ukraine continues.
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The court ruled that the IIHF must reinstate Russian teams, beginning with the world juniors.
Russia was excluded from international hockey after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the IIHF must reinstate Russian teams, beginning with the world juniors.
Carney said Russia would not be allowed to compete at the world juniors in Canada.
The world juniors are scheduled to begin in Edmonton and Red Deer.
- Tournament
- 2026 world junior hockey championship
- Host province
- Alberta
- Host cities
- Edmonton and Red Deer
- Start date
- Dec. 26
- Canadian prime minister
- Mark Carney
- Court ruling
- IIHF must reinstate Russian teams, beginning with the world juniors
8 sources
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Canada laat Russische ijshockeyers niet deelnemen aan toernooi, ondanks uitspraak sporttribunaal
Russia not allowed at world juniors as 6 countries threaten boycott, Canada says
Canadian PM Carney says Russia will not be allowed to compete at World Juniors
Prime Minister says Russia will not be allowed to compete at 2026 world juniors in Alberta
What people are saying
So if you're asking specifically about the world juniors, the Russians will not be there.
While Russia and Belarus are supporting this illegal and unjustified horrific war in Ukraine, as long as that's going on, there will be none of those athletes competing for their countries in Canada.
The Three Crowns will not play Russia in coming world championship tournaments.