The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has formally expressed its continued opposition to a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that demands the reinstatement of Russian teams to international competition. The governing body cautioned that allowing Russia to return would trigger significant practical and sporting challenges, including complications regarding security provisions, visa requirements, logistical constraints, and the overall integrity of competition formats.
This pushback arrives amid widespread international resistance, as Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and the Czech Republic have already declared that their national squads will refuse to face Russia during the upcoming men’s World Championships in Germany. Similar sentiments have been echoed by Finland and Latvia, while the Finnish city of Turku has signaled it may withdraw from its duties as a host for the 2028 World Junior Championship. The decision has prompted widespread backlash.
In North America, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that Russia and Belarus remain barred from the imminent World Junior Championship in Alberta. This stance drew sharp criticism from Moscow, with Russian ambassador Oleg Stepanov telling the TASS news agency that Canada was attempting to politicize junior hockey.
Adding to the pressure on organizers, Skoda Auto—a primary sponsor of the ice hockey world championships since 1993—has threatened to withdraw its support should Russia be permitted to compete. Its spokeswoman Ivana Povolna refused to specify the amount Skoda spends on the ice hockey world championships annually.
A spokesperson for the carmaker, which is a division of Germany’s Volkswagen, stated that Russia’s return would be incompatible with their values. The company, which provides electric vehicles for tournament logistics and sponsors the event’s most valuable player trophy, emphasized that it would reassess its involvement and take further action if necessary. It also sponsors the Tour de France. According to skoda’s annual report for 2025, The company lent 45 electric cars to the organisers, while its designers made the crystal trophy for the most valuable player of the tournament.
The IIHF continues to navigate this impasse, noting that it remains in active dialogue with national associations, tournament organizers, and host authorities to determine the most viable path forward. Despite the legal overturning of the initial exclusion imposed following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the governing body maintains that the immediate reintegration of Russian athletes is currently unfeasible.
