Safety concerns Ice Hockey World Federation maintains exclusion of Russia and Belarus

SDA

4.2.2025 - 15:03

Russia and Belarus will not play for the Ice Hockey World Cup in 2026 either.
Russia and Belarus will not play for the Ice Hockey World Cup in 2026 either.
Picture: Keystone

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has extended the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from international national team and club competitions for the 2025/26 season.

Keystone-SDA

The IIHF made this decision on Tuesday, citing ongoing safety concerns. The 27-time world champions Russia and Belarus have not been allowed to participate in IIHF events since 2022 due to the war of aggression against Ukraine.

The decision means that Russia will not take part in the 2026 World Championships in Zurich and Fribourg. Russia will also be absent from the preceding Olympic Games in Milan, with France moving up into the field of participants.