--- title: "IIHF Bars Belarus National Teams from 2027 Ice Hockey World Championships" description: "The IIHF has barred Belarus men's national teams from the 2027 Ice Hockey World Championships, partially satisfying the association's appeal. Regarding Russia, the federation is holding talks with the Russian federation following the CAS ruling." date: 2026-11-07T14:55:46.238Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/iihf-bars-belarus-2027-world-championships tags: [belarus, hockey, iihf, world-championship-2027, russia, ukraine] author: "Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # IIHF Bars Belarus National Teams from 2027 Ice Hockey World Championships ![Belarusian hockey players in red uniforms celebrating on the ice](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/07/belarus-ne-dopustili-k-chm-2027-po-hokkeju/belarus-ne-dopustili-k-chm-2027-po-hokkeju-1.webp) ## Key Points - Belarusian teams (juniors and seniors) are excluded from the 2027 Ice Hockey World Championships. - The IIHF Disciplinary Board partially satisfied the appeal but found no legal grounds for immediate reintegration. - Regarding Russia, the IIHF disagrees with the CAS decision but is complying with it and holding talks with the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia. - Ukraine and tournament sponsor Skoda Auto are opposing Russia's potential return to the tournament. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has decided not to admit the men's national teams of Belarus — neither the junior nor the senior squads — to participate in the 2027 World Championships. According to RBC-Ukraine, the federation itself announced this decision. The ruling was made by the IIHF Council following the partial approval of an appeal filed by the Belarus Ice Hockey Association against an earlier Council decision dated July 27, 2026. Thus, the international isolation of Belarusian hockey at the planet's premier tournament will continue at least until the next season. ### Why the Appeal Did Not Lead to Reintegration The IIHF Disciplinary Board only partially satisfied the appeal of the Belarus Ice Hockey Association and ultimately confirmed the lack of legal grounds for the immediate reintegration of the teams into the competition calendar. When issuing the verdict, as stated in the federation's announcement, the panel took into account current sports and organizational agreements, the competition structure, approved schedules, ticket sales, and operational planning for the 2027 season. In effect, this means that even with the formal recognition of some of the association's arguments, no practical access to the tournament has emerged for the Belarusian teams. ### Federation Priorities: Stability and Long-Term Future Separately, the IIHF commented on the situation surrounding Russia. The federation stated that, despite disagreeing with the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), it is taking the necessary measures to comply with that ruling. At the same time, the organization is reviewing the conditions required to protect the championships, ensure financial stability, and secure the long-term future of international hockey. According to the federation, the IIHF is currently exploring all possible paths and initiating negotiations with national associations, particularly with the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia, to find a constructive path for the development of world hockey. ### Ukraine's Position and Opposition to Russia's Return Ukraine, in turn, is actively opposing Russia's return to the international arena. Ukrainian Minister of Youth and Sports Matvii Bidnyi previously noted that the CAS decision does not cancel the reality of war, commenting on the state's efforts to counter the return of Russians to the 2027 World Championship. According to the minister, Ukraine is utilizing all available international mechanisms to protect the national team's place in the elite division and prevent the legitimization of representatives from the aggressor state. As Football24 additionally reported, the host country of the 2027 Junior World Championship, Canada, previously stated that it would not allow the Russian and Belarusian teams to compete. ### Pressure from Sponsors Parallel to this, the reaction from international partners and tournament sponsors is intensifying. The long-time tournament sponsor, Czech automaker Skoda Auto, has given the IIHF an ultimatum regarding Russia's potential participation, declaring its readiness to boycott the competition if Russian national teams return. This increases organizational and financial pressure on the federation, which must balance the execution of the arbitration award, the interests of national associations, and the expectations of commercial partners. ## Accounts differ ### Current status of Russia's return to international hockey - **NV Publication (sport.nv.ua):** The headline claims that Russia has already been returned to international hockey amid the exclusion of Belarus ([sport.nv.ua](https://sport.nv.ua/hockey/belarus-ne-dopustili-k-chm-2027-po-hokkeyu-50657181.html)) - **IIHF / RBC-Ukraine:** The federation disagrees with the CAS decision, but is taking steps to implement it and is negotiating with the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia; a final decision on Russia has not been announced ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/bilorus-dopustili-chempionatu-svitu-hokeyu-1794061077.html)) - **Football24:** The IIHF has not yet made a final decision regarding Russia ([football24.ua](https://football24.ua/ru/sport/news/belarus-ne-dopustili-k-chempionatu-mira-po-hokkeju-izvestno-prinjato-li-reshenie-v-otnoshenii-rossii-975043)) *Where they agree:* Belarusian teams are excluded from the 2027 World Championship; a CAS ruling is in effect regarding Russia, which the IIHF is processing. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Беларусь не допустили к чемпионату мира по хоккею 2027 года](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/bilorus-dopustili-chempionatu-svitu-hokeyu-1794061077.html) - Primary source: IIHF decision on excluding Belarus, partial satisfaction of the appeal, stance on Russia, quote from Minister Bidnyi, Skoda Auto boycott threat. - [Беларусь не допустили к ЧМ-2027 по хоккею, хотя Россию вернули — официальное заявление IIHF](https://sport.nv.ua/hockey/belarus-ne-dopustili-k-chm-2027-po-hokkeyu-50657181.html) - Confirms the exclusion of Belarus (U20 and seniors); frames the return of Russia in the headline. - [Беларусь не допустили к чемпионату мира по хоккею – известно, принято ли решение в отношении ...](https://football24.ua/ru/sport/news/belarus-ne-dopustili-k-chempionatu-mira-po-hokkeju-izvestno-prinjato-li-reshenie-v-otnoshenii-rossii-975043) - Confirms the exclusion of Belarus; indicates that a final decision on Russia has not been made; mentions Canada's position as host of the 2027 Junior World Championship. ## FAQ ### Why is Belarus not admitted to the 2027 Ice Hockey World Championship? The IIHF Disciplinary Board partially satisfied the appeal of the Belarus Ice Hockey Association but confirmed the absence of legal grounds for immediate reintegration, taking into account organizational arrangements and schedules for the 2027 season. ### What is happening with Russia? The IIHF stated its disagreement with the CAS decision, but is taking measures to implement it and is conducting negotiations with the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia; a final decision on Russia has not been announced. ### What is Ukraine's position? Minister Matvii Bidnyi stated that the CAS decision does not cancel the reality of war, and Ukraine is utilizing international mechanisms to protect the national team's spot in the elite division. ### How have sponsors reacted? Czech automaker Skoda Auto, a long-time tournament sponsor, announced its readiness to boycott the competition over the potential return of Russian national teams.