The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has extended the suspension of the Russian and Belarusian national teams from international competitions, preventing them from participating in the 2026 World Cup.
The IIHF notes that the current conditions do not allow for the required level of security at tournaments involving these teams. The suspension will be in effect at least until May 2026.
At the same time, the issue of Russia’s participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics remains open – this decision will be made by the International Olympic Committee.
The Russian Ice Hockey Federation is already planning to appeal the suspension in court.
“We will appeal this decision in court and in any case we will achieve our goal,” said Pavel Bure, a representative of the Russian Hockey Federation.