Russia's Eligibility for International Ice Hockey Events Hangs in the Balance In a significant development for the world of ice hockey, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has announced that it will re-evaluate Russia's participation on a game-by-game basis for the upcoming 2026-27 season. This decision comes after months of uncertainty surrounding Russia's eligibility following its invasion of Ukraine. The IIHF's move marks a shift from its previous stance, which had effectively banned Russia from competing at the international level. The Russian Ice Hockey Federation has now taken the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, signaling its intent to challenge the IIHF's ruling and potentially secure a place for Russian teams in future competitions.

The IIHF Council had to re-analyze Russia's eligibility on an event-by-event basis for the 2026-27 season. The Russian Ice Hockey Federation said it's appealing the latest decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.