CAS orders Russia back into ice hockey World Championships

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation to allow Russia back into international ice hockey competitions on Friday. The ruling overturns decisions that had kept Russian teams out of the 2026-27 season events, including the men's and women's world championships and the world juniors. CAS cited a lack of sufficient evidence to support the IIHF's previous security concerns as the reason for the reversal.

This decision creates an immediate logistical problem for the men's world championship scheduled for next year in Germany. Russia has qualified, and Ukraine also secured a spot. The tournament draw is already set for 16 teams. Adding Russia would require uneven groups or a longer schedule. Removing a qualified team to make room for Russia risks political backlash, particularly if that team is Ukraine. Ukraine was the last nation to qualify for the men's worlds, ending a 20-year absence, and is currently ranked lowest among the 16 participating teams.

New IIHF President Franz Reindl acknowledged the challenge in a statement. He said the organization's task is to implement the ruling responsibly. Reindl noted that several championships are only weeks away and that changes to participation affect players, teams, organizing committees, and host cities. He added that the IIHF will work closely with these groups to find practical solutions. The IIHF expressed disappointment with the ruling but stated it will act in accordance with the court's decision. The federation maintained that its original decisions were necessary to protect the safety and security of participants.

German hockey federation chairman Frank H. Lutz said Germany remains opposed to letting Russia take part. He stated that allowing Russia in has security, political, and financial consequences for the host nation. The Ukrainian Hockey Federation also disagreed with the ruling. It argued that security concerns have intensified since 2022. Ukraine did not indicate how it would approach the world championship if the IIHF keeps it in the tournament.

The first tournament where Russia could return is the men's world junior championship. This event starts on December 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Other events covered by the ruling include the women's world championship in Canada in November 2027 and the men's under-18 world championship starting in April in Minnesota. The women's under-18 world championship in the Czech Republic takes place in January. A Russian team playing under its national flag could have political repercussions in the Czech Republic. A spokesperson for Czech President Petr Pavel said the president considers it appropriate to ban athletes under Russian and Belarusian flags as long as Russian aggression continues.

The women's worlds beginning next week in Denmark are not affected by the ruling. That event counts as part of the 2025-26 season and was moved to November. Russia and the Soviet Union have won 27 men's world titles, second only to Canada's 28. Russia last won gold in 2014. Its best result at the women's worlds is a bronze medal.

The hockey win is part of a shift in the Olympic movement toward reintegrating Russia. The nation had only small squads of neutral athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics and this year's Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Swimming and volleyball allowed Russia to compete under its national flag this year. The International Olympic Committee also eased its approach, allowing a Russian team to participate in the Youth Olympics this week. The CAS ruling does not apply to the NHL's World Cup of Hockey. League officials said they would follow the lead of the international community regarding Russian participation in the 2028 event. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the NHL has not made a decision yet and that more information leads to better decisions.

Russian sports officials viewed the hockey ruling as a positive sign for other disciplines. Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov wrote on Telegram that CAS recognized the demands of the Russian Hockey Federation as justified. The Russian soccer federation general secretary Maxim Mitrofanov said there should be one rule for all sports. FIFA and UEFA have barred Russian teams from World Cup qualifying and the Champions League since 2022. The Russian track and field federation said the hockey decision gave it confidence in its own CAS case against World Athletics. World Athletics remains the last major Olympic sport with a blanket ban on Russian athletes.