Former International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Vice President Kalervo Kummola has stated that the Ukrainian national team will retain its place in the elite division of the 2027 World Championship and will not be ousted to make way for the return of the Russian team. According to the Finnish official, he held a meeting with the new IIHF President Franz Reindl on November 1, 2026, during which the issue of the Ukrainian national team's participation in the upcoming global tournament was directly raised. "We discussed this issue with the new IIHF President. It was clearly stated that a decision cannot be implemented whereby Ukraine is excluded and Russia takes its place," Kummola is quoted as saying by the Iltalehti publication, as referenced by Sport RBC.UA.
Context: CAS Ruling and a Wave of Concerns
The discussion was triggered by a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which allowed Russian national teams to participate in international ice hockey competitions. Following this, concerns arose within the hockey community that Russia would take Ukraine's place in the elite division of the 2027 World Championship. The IIHF Competitions Committee had previously proposed a mechanism whereby, in the event of Russia's return, the team ranked 16th in the standings would lose its spot at the tournament. However, at the time this proposal was prepared, it was not known which specific team would occupy the bottom position among the championship participants.
Ukraine — The Last Team to Qualify
Ukraine became the last national team to earn the right to play in the elite division of the World Championship following the Division 1A tournament in 2026. This is precisely why its participation came under question first: formally, it held the 16th position, and if the proposed mechanism were implemented, the "blue-and-yellows" could lose their spot. Kummola, however, is convinced that this mechanism cannot be implemented and the Ukrainian team must retain its place among the world's strongest national teams. He emphasized that no one in the IIHF leadership would dare to make such a decision.
Historical Context and Prospects
For the Ukrainian national team, returning to the elite division is of special significance: the last time Ukrainian hockey players competed at the highest level of the global championship was in 2007. Thus, participation in the 2027 World Championship will be the team's first in nearly two decades. The 2027 Men's World Championship is scheduled to take place in Germany from May 14 to May 30. Currently, the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine has not decided whether it will boycott the tournament if the Russian national team is admitted, but the IIHF's position, voiced by Kummola, significantly reduces the likelihood of such a scenario.
Federation Position and Next Steps
Kummola's statement, made a day after his meeting with Reindl, effectively closes the discussion on who exactly will lose their place in the elite division upon Russia's return. The Finnish official, well-acquainted with the internal processes of the IIHF, emphasizes that the decision has already been made at the federation leadership level. Nevertheless, final confirmation of the tournament format and the list of participants is expected from the official IIHF Competitions Committee. For Ukrainian hockey, retaining a spot in the elite is not just a matter of sports statistics, but a symbol of returning to the international arena after a long break.
