Nordic nations refuse to face Russia in ice hockey World Championship

Denmark, Norway and Sweden said on 3 November that their national teams would refuse to play Russia at the 2027 men’s Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany. Finland had announced the same position a day earlier. The four federations linked their decisions to Russia’s continuing war in Ukraine. Norway said it would play its other scheduled matches, while Sweden said its national teams would not face Russian teams in international competition while the war continues.

The announcements followed a 30 October ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that Russia must be admitted to the championship, overturning its exclusion from International Ice Hockey Federation competitions. Russia has been barred since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The tournament draw and schedule had already been set without Russia, leaving organisers to work out how the ruling could be put into effect. The IIHF has warned of significant practical difficulties. The Czech federation has also said its teams will not play Russia, and officials in the Finnish city of Turku have said they would give up hosting a future junior championship if Russia were allowed to take part.