Russia back in ice hockey world championships after sport court ruling

What the report says

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled that Russia must be allowed back into international ice hockey world championships, overturning International Ice Hockey Federation decisions that had kept it out of events in the 2026-27 season. The decision marks a significant reversal of the sport’s post-2022 restrictions, which followed Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to Al Jazeera, the CAS said the IIHF had not provided enough evidence to justify its security concerns. The ruling affects the men’s and women’s world championships, as well as under-18 and junior competitions. It does not settle related questions such as whether Russia would compete under neutral status or what other organizational conditions might apply.

The IIHF said it was disappointed but would comply with the ruling, while maintaining that its earlier decisions were necessary to protect participants and preserve competition integrity. Russian sports officials welcomed the outcome. The ruling creates immediate logistical and political complications for the IIHF, especially because Germany is scheduled to host the men’s world championship next year and the tournament draw has already been completed.

The first likely event for Russia’s return is the men’s world junior championship in Edmonton and Red Deer, Canada, beginning on December 26. Al Jazeera noted that Belarus has also been excluded from IIHF events, though it was not mentioned in the CAS ruling.