The International Ice Hockey Federation has reaffirmed its opposition to the return of Russian national teams to international competition, despite a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ordering their reinstatement. The governing body warned that bringing Russia back would create what it called significant practical and sporting challenges.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the federation said it stood by the position it argued before the court. "As presented to the CAS, the immediate reintegration of Russian teams presents significant practical and sporting challenges, including visa and entry requirements, security provisions, logistical constraints and consequences for competition formats," the IIHF said.
The CAS ruled last week to overturn the federation's exclusion of Russia, which was imposed following the country's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The decision has triggered a wave of resistance from national federations and governments ahead of next year's men's World Championships, which are scheduled to take place in Germany.
Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the Czech Republic have already announced that their national teams will refuse to take the ice against Russia at that tournament. Latvia and Finland have since joined the boycott, and the Finnish city of Turku has threatened to withdraw from hosting duties for the 2028 World Junior Championship.
Governments have also weighed in. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Russia and Belarus would be barred from the upcoming World Junior Championship in Alberta. Moscow criticised that move, with Russian ambassador Oleg Stepanov telling the state-run news agency TASS that Canada was "bringing politics even into junior hockey".
The IIHF said it remains in dialogue with national associations, host authorities and tournament organisers as it tries to chart the best path forward from the dispute.
Pressure is now also coming from the sport's commercial partners. Czech carmaker Skoda Auto, the main sponsor of the ice hockey world championships, said on Wednesday that it would "reassess" its sponsorship if Russia takes part in the annual tournament.
"If the Russian national team takes part in the tournament, we will reassess our involvement in the tournament and take further action," Skoda told the AFP news agency in a statement. The company added that Russia's return was "incompatible with the values we have consistently upheld".
Skoda Auto, a unit of Germany's Volkswagen, has been the tournament's official main sponsor since 1993 and also backs the Tour de France cycling race. Its spokeswoman Ivana Povolna declined to say how much the company spends on the ice hockey event each year.
According to Skoda's annual report for 2025, the company lent 45 electric cars to tournament organisers, and its designers produced the crystal trophy awarded to the most valuable player of the competition.
