IIHF Will Revisit Whether To Allow Russia Back For 2026-27 Season

The IIHF Council must decide again whether to reintegrate Russia's national and club teams for the 2026-27 season.

In January, the council announced it would not allow Russia and Belarus back into its championships for another season. It said current security conditions don't meet the requirements needed to guarantee everyone's safety in a tournament if Russian and Belarusian teams participated.

The Russian Ice Hockey Federation appealed the council's decision to the IIHF Disciplinary Board, which annulled it on May 25. The RIHF said the council failed to provide sufficient justification for the ban, and the safety risk assessment reports contained only general provisions.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 7:59 AM.