The national hockey teams of Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Norway and Denmark refused to play against the Russian national team in international tournaments. Previously, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the International Ice Hockey Federation must allow Russia to participate in international competitions from the 2026/27 season. Earlier, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Pico, supported the decision to allow Russian hockey players to return to international tournaments: "I always asked myself, what is the value of a gold medal if on the way to achieving it, you don't have to overcome Russian hockey players, who are without a doubt one of the best in the world. ".

The national hockey teams of Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Norway and Denmark refused to play against the Russian national team in international tournaments. Previously, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the International Ice Hockey Federation must allow Russia to participate in international competitions from the 2026/27 season. Earlier, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Pico, supported the decision to allow Russian hockey players to return to international tournaments: "I always asked myself, what is the value of a gold medal if on the way to achieving it, you don't have to overcome Russian hockey players, who are without a doubt one of the best in the world. ".