The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has decided not to allow the Belarus national team to participate in the 2027 IIHF Men’s World Championship and the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The decision was taken by the IIHF Council after reconsidering an application from the Belarus Ice Hockey Federation for the participation of the national and junior teams in tournaments during the 2026/27 season.
The IIHF said it had conducted a separate assessment for each championship, taking into account security issues, the protection of participants and the organisational feasibility of holding competitions involving the Belarusian team.
As a result, the IIHF Council ruled that Belarus will not compete in the 2027 IIHF Men’s World Championship or the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Earlier, the IIHF allowed several Belarusian national teams to participate in world championships during the 2026/27 season. The decision applies to the men’s under-18 national team, the women’s under-18 national team and the senior women’s national team.
The IIHF Council also reviewed the participation of the Russian national team in international tournaments during the 2026/27 season. Russia has been barred from the 2027 IIHF Men’s World Championship, the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship, and the men’s and women’s under-18 world championships.
The issue of Russia’s participation in the 2027 IIHF Women’s World Championship will be considered separately in November 2026, taking into account the latest risk assessment and the situation at that time.