Russia and Belarus will remain suspended from IIHF competition for the 2025-26 season.
Russia and Belarus will remain suspended from IIHF competition for the 2025-26 season.
The IIHF announced today that the standing ban handed down on Russia and Belarus for sanctioned international competition will remain in place for the 2025-26 IIHF Championships.
"Following its latest meeting this morning, the IIHF Council believes it is not yet safe to reintegrate the Russian and Belarusian National and Club Teams to its championships for the 2025-2026 season," the IIHF wrote in a statement. "As the current security conditions do not allow the necessary requirements for the organization of tournaments guaranteeing the safety of all, the IIHF must maintain the current status quo until further notice."
The IIHF council will again review the situation ahead of the 2026-27 season in May 2026.
The decision goes against recent statements from IIHF president Luc Tardif who earlier in 2025 stated "“We have to let the door open as soon as possible,” in reference to reinstating Russia and Belarus into competition. “We want them back as soon as possible. It will mean the war will be over. (Russia) is missed for any competition. But let them come too early, that’s not going to be good.”
Russia's women's hockey team last competed in the IIHF World Championships in 2021. They have since been suspended from competition due to the nation's unlawful occupation and invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in roughly 80,000 killed in Ukraine since the invasion began.