Germany May Withdraw From The Ice Hockey World Championship Due To Russia's Participation

• 4.11.2026, 18:26

Berlin is considering joining the boycott.

The German government will discuss with the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) the possible consequences of the Russian national team's participation in the 2027 World Championship. This was stated by a German government spokesperson, as reported by Bild.

In Berlin, officials view the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) decision to allow the Russians to compete “very critically.” “In the near future, the government will discuss with the DEB the potential implications of this decision, including for the 2027 World Hockey Championship, which is scheduled to take place in Germany,” said the government spokesperson.

Last week, CAS ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to allow Russian national teams—which had been suspended since 2022 due to the military operation in Ukraine—to participate in tournaments. Exactly how this admission will be implemented remains unclear.

The next World Championship is scheduled for May 2027 in Germany. DEB President Frank Lutz has said that the organization is considering the possibility of canceling the tournament. The national teams of Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic have already stated that they will not play against Russia at the 2027 World Championship. In addition, several IIHF sponsors have threatened to withdraw from the 2027 World Championship if Russia is allowed to participate.