The Russian youth hockey team will not be able to participate in the 2027 World Cup in Canada due to the position of the authorities. Failure to comply with the International Hockey Federation's Court of Sport ruling now faces lawsuits and millions of dollars in fines.
"After careful evaluation of the feasibility of alternative arrangements, the Council has decided that Canada will remain the host and the tournament will be held from December 26, 2026 to January 5, 2027 in Edmonton and Red Deer," the IIHF said in a statement. Earlier on October 30, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordered the IIHF to allow Russian teams to participate in international competitions, but Canadian authorities refused to allow Russian players even with valid visas.
The Russian Hockey Federation has already stated that the International Federation has violated a binding court decision, and intends to seek restitution of the athletes' rights, as well as compensation for damage caused by all available legal means.