Five countries say they will refuse to play Russia at 2027 ice hockey worlds

Five countries say they will refuse to play Russia at the 2027 World Ice Hockey Championship, after a sports tribunal ruled that Russia must be readmitted to international tournaments.

Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Latvia have declared they will not face the Russian team. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) says it respects the authority of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), despite expressing disappointment at its decision.

The tournament is scheduled to take place in Germany from 13 to 30 May, with 16 teams, including Ukraine. The draw had already been made when the CAS ruling was announced, leaving the IIHF to work out how Russia’s participation will be handled. The federation says the ruling has significant practical implications for events already well advanced in their preparations and will provide more information later.

The countries’ positions are not identical in the statements reported. Norway’s federation said Russia should be excluded from all international championships for as long as the war in Ukraine continues. Sweden’s federation said it would not play Russia “in the current situation”. Ukraine condemned the CAS decision but also said it respected the tribunal’s authority.

Russia has been barred from almost all international sport since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The International Olympic Committee decided in July to welcome Russian athletes back, and some sports federations have since restored access to international competitions. Some sponsors of the 2027 ice hockey championship have also withdrawn, according to the report.