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Belarus barred from 2027 ice hockey championships as IIHF weighs Russia’s return after court ruling
Belarus will remain barred from the 2027 World Championship and World Junior Championship, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) said on 7 November. The decision keeps the existing tournament arrangements in place while the federation considers how to respond to a court ruling that overturned its ban on Russian teams.
The IIHF said Belarus’s appeal had been partly upheld, but the ruling did not require immediate reinstatement; changing the competition formats, schedules, ticketing and logistics would be difficult. It is reviewing how a possible Russian return could meet safety and financial requirements, amid criticism from Ukraine and several hockey nations and boycott threats from some European federations. Ukraine qualified for the top division for the first time in 20 years, and concerns have been raised about its place, though no replacement decision has been announced.
In short
- Belarus remains excluded from the 2027 championships.
- The IIHF is considering how to implement a ruling on Russia’s return.
- Ukraine’s place in the top division has prompted concern.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Keeping Belarus out of the 2027 tournaments preserves arrangements already made and gives the IIHF time to assess whether participation can meet safety and financial requirements. Supporters of this cautious approach may argue that reinstatement should not be rushed while Ukrainian players and other teams have raised concerns, and that a court ruling overturning a ban does not necessarily require an immediate return.
The case against
Continuing the exclusion despite Belarus’s partly upheld appeal risks making access to international sport depend on unsettled political judgements rather than consistent rules. Those favouring reinstatement may argue that the IIHF should comply promptly with the ruling, adapt tournament arrangements where feasible, and apply transparent criteria to Belarus and Russia alike rather than leave teams’ participation uncertain.