The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned the International Ice Hockey Federation's exclusion of Russian teams, ordering the IIHF to allow Russia to compete in five tournaments including next year's men's and women's world championships.
The court said on Friday it had overturned IIHF decisions barring Russia from events in the 2026-27 season, citing a lack of sufficient evidence to support the security concerns the IIHF had given for excluding Russian teams. The ruling covers five upcoming tournaments, from the men's world junior championship opening in Edmonton on December 26 to the men's world championship in Germany next May and the women's world championship scheduled for November 2027 in Canada.
The IIHF has barred Russian teams from its tournaments since shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, meaning Russia also missed this year's Olympic hockey tournaments in Milan.
Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov welcomed the ruling, writing on the Telegram social media app that CAS had "recognized the demands of the Russian Hockey Federation on key points as justified."
The IIHF expressed disappointment with the decision, saying it "maintains that its decisions were necessary to protect the safety and security of all participants and safeguard the integrity of its competitions." It added: "While the IIHF respects the authority of CAS and will act in accordance with its ruling, the outcome does not remove the concerns that informed its assessments."
Germany's ice hockey association also expressed disappointment. "Our position is unchanged: We reject the return of Russian national teams to international ice hockey tournaments," chairman Frank Lutz said.
The women's world championship hosted by Denmark, which starts next Friday, November 6, is not mentioned in the statement. Russia and its predecessor, the Soviet Union, have won 27 men's world championships, second only to Canada with 28. The ruling comes with the IIHF having just elected a new president: Germany's Franz Reindl took over from France's Luc Tardif earlier this month.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Russia, one of ice hockey's most successful nations, is set to return to elite international competition after four years of exclusion, reshaping the field at world championships and immediately at December's junior tournament.
- The ruling puts sports bodies' security-based eligibility decisions under legal scrutiny and raises questions about how federations and host nations will manage safety and political tensions.
- The decision directly affects upcoming men's and women's world championships, as well as the five tournaments Russia is now entitled to enter.
Background
International sports bodies moved to exclude Russian and Belarusian teams and athletes after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, though eligibility rules varied by sport. The IIHF barred Russian teams from its tournaments shortly after the invasion began, and Russia consequently missed this year's Olympic hockey tournaments in Milan. CAS is the international body that resolves sports disputes.
Key Perspectives
Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov: Welcomed the ruling, writing that CAS had "recognized the demands of the Russian Hockey Federation on key points as justified."
The IIHF: Expressed disappointment, maintaining that its decisions were necessary to protect the safety and security of all participants and safeguard the integrity of its competitions, while saying it respects the authority of CAS and will act in accordance with the ruling.
Germany's ice hockey association (DEB): Rejected the return of Russian national teams, with chairman Frank Lutz saying, "Our position is unchanged."
What to Watch
- Whether Russia's men's team takes part in the World Junior Championship in Edmonton on December 26, the first tournament covered by the ruling.
- Whether the women's world championship in Denmark, which starts November 6 and is not mentioned in the ruling, proceeds without Russia.
- How the IIHF and host federations handle security arrangements at the events Russia is now entitled to enter.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedCAS ordered the IIHF to allow Russia to compete in the world championships.DW English: “Specifically, it ordered the IIHF to allow Russia to participate in five upcoming tournaments, including the Men's Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany next May and the Women's Ice Hockey World Championship scheduled for November 2027 in Canada.”
- SupportedCAS overturned IIHF decisions excluding Russia from events during the 2026–27 season because the security concerns lacked sufficient supporting evidence.DW English: “In the statement, the CAS cited a lack of sufficient evidence to support security concerns cited by the IIHF in its decisions to exclude Russian teams from competition.”
- SupportedThe ruling covers five tournaments, including the men's world junior championship opening in Edmonton on December 26, the men's world championship in Germany next May and the women's world championship in Canada in November 2027.DW English: “The first tournament affected by the ruling is the Men's World Junior Championship, which opens in Edmonton on December 26.”
- SupportedRussian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov wrote that CAS had “recognized the demands of the Russian Hockey Federation on key points as justified.”DW English: “Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov hailed the CAS ruling, writing on the Telegram social media app that CAS had "recognized the demands of the Russian Hockey Federation on key points as justified."”
- SupportedThe IIHF expressed disappointment and said its decisions were necessary to protect participants’ safety and security and safeguard competition integrity.DW English: “The IIHF expressed disappointment with the ruling , saying it "maintains that its decisions were necessary to protect the safety and security of all participants and safeguard the integrity of its competitions."”
- SupportedThe IIHF said the ruling did not remove the concerns informing its assessments, while saying it would respect CAS’s authority and act in accordance with the ruling.DW English: “"While the IIHF respects the authority of CAS and will act in accordance with its ruling, the outcome does not remove the concerns that informed its assessments."”
- SupportedGermany’s ice hockey association expressed disappointment, and chairman Frank Lutz said, “Our position is unchanged: We reject the return of Russian national teams to international ice hockey tournaments.”DW English: “Germany's ice hockey association , the DEB, also expressed disappointment at the decision. "Our position is unchanged: We reject the return of Russian national teams to international ice hockey tournaments," DEB chairman Frank Lutz said.”
- SupportedThe women’s world championship hosted by Denmark starts Friday, November 6, and is not mentioned in the CAS statement.DW English: “The Women's World Championship being hosted by Denmark starting next Friday, November 6, is not mentioned in the statement.”
- SupportedThe IIHF has barred Russian teams from its tournaments since shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.DW English: “The IIHF has barred Russian teams from its tournaments since shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.”
- SupportedRussia missed this year’s Olympic hockey tournaments in Milan because of the IIHF bar.DW English: “This meant Russia also missed this year's prestigious Olympic hockey tournaments in Milan earlier this year.”
- SupportedRussia and the Soviet Union have won 27 men's world championships, second to Canada's 28.DW English: “Russia and its predecessor, the Soviet Union, are one of the most successful ice hockey-playing nations, having won 27 men's World Championships, second only to Canada (28).”
- SupportedGermany’s Franz Reindl took over as IIHF president from France’s Luc Tardif earlier this month.DW English: “Friday's ruling comes with the IIHF having just elected a new president – Germany's Franz Reindl took over from Luc Tardif of France earlier this month.”