IIHF to Assess Russia’s Tournament Eligibility Case by Case

The International Ice Hockey Federation announced Friday that it will determine Russia’s eligibility to participate in its tournaments on an event-by-event basis for the 2026-27 season. This procedural shift follows the annulment of a January decision by the IIHF Council to bar Russian teams from all competitions for that season.

The earlier council ruling was overturned by the IIHF’s Disciplinary Board after an appeal by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation. The board found the council’s decision lacked sufficient justification and sent the matter back for reanalysis. The IIHF clarified that this does not constitute an automatic reinstatement for Russia. Instead, the council will now assess each potential tournament individually, based on safety, security, operational, and sporting plans.

Russia and Belarus have been banned from IIHF competitions since February 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Belarus’s support of the war. The federation cited security concerns as the primary reason for the exclusion. This week, the IIHF also announced the reintegration of Belarusian teams into certain under-18 and women’s Division IV events, starting this year. The council stated...