The International Ice Hockey Federation has opened the door to a possible return of Russian and Belarusian youth teams to international competition by the 2027-28 season. The update came after the IIHF Council released a new statement following its latest meeting and risk assessment in January.
The IIHF confirmed that Russia and Belarus will remain excluded from all senior and club competitions for the 2026-27 season. The council said current security conditions still fail to meet the standards required to ensure safe and properly organized tournaments.
“The IIHF Council believes it is not yet safe to reintegrate…” They said in a statement.
Player safety and event logistics remain among the IIHF’s top concerns. However, the council said it will consider reintegrating under-18 national and club teams from Russia and Belarus for the 2027-28 season.
“The IIHF Council has reviewed the IOC recommendations and will consider the reintegration of youth players (U18) from the Russian and Belarusian National and Club Teams to its championships for the 2027-2028 season,” The IIHF statement reads. “This consideration will remain contingent upon an ongoing assessment of safety and security conditions.
“If these risks sufficiently reduce over the coming months, the IIHF will work together with the relevant national associations to support a possible reintegration at the youth level.”
The IIHF stressed that no final decision has been made and that conditions must improve before any return is approved. The shift follows recent guidance from the International Olympic Committee, which suggested that youth athletes should not face long-term exclusion for actions taken by their governments.
The IIHF Banned Russia and Belarus in 2022
Russia and Belarus have been banned from international hockey since February 2022. The IIHF imposed the suspension shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Belarus included due to its political and logistical support. The ban covers all IIHF events across men’s, women’s, and youth levels, including Olympic competitions.
“The IIHF Council has decided… Suspension of all Russian and Belarusian National Teams and Clubs from participation in every age category and in all IIHF competitions or events until further notice.” The Council said in its statement in February 2022.
At the time, the IIHF also stripped Russia of the right to host the 2023 World Junior Championship. Back then, the decision was based on safety and travel risks.
For now, Russia and Belarus remain barred from elite international play through at least the 2026-27 season.
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