Russia and Belarus at the World Juniors: IIHF Decision as of November 8, 2026

Last verified: November 8, 2026, at 20:03 UTC.

Belarus will not play in the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship in Alberta, the International Ice Hockey Federation announced on November 7. Russia’s situation is different: the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled that Russian teams must be allowed to enter IIHF championships, but the federation is still working through how to implement that decision.

For Canadian fans, that means Belarus is definitively out under the latest IIHF decision, while Russia’s appearance in Edmonton and Red Deer is not confirmed. Canada’s government has said it will not allow Russia to compete at the tournament, adding a practical obstacle to any return.

Destaques

• The IIHF says Belarus’s under-20 team will not participate in the 2027 World Juniors.
• CAS ruled in favor of allowing Russian teams to enter IIHF championships; the IIHF says it is taking the steps required by that ruling.
• Russia’s place in the Alberta tournament and any resulting schedule changes remain unresolved.
• The championship is scheduled for December 26, 2026, through January 5, 2027, in Edmonton and Red Deer.

What did the IIHF decide about Belarus and Russia?

In its November 7 statement, the IIHF Council said Belarus’s under-20 team would not participate in the 2027 World Juniors. It also excluded Belarus’s senior men’s team from the 2027 men’s world championship.

The decision followed an IIHF Disciplinary Board ruling that partially upheld an appeal by the Belarusian Ice Hockey Association. The federation said the board found no legal basis to order immediate reintegration. The Council then considered existing tournament arrangements, including competition structures, schedules, ticketing and operational planning.

Russia’s case reached a different stage. On October 30, the IIHF said CAS had allowed the Russian federation to enter a team in all IIHF championships with immediate effect. The IIHF disagreed with that aspect of the ruling, saying its earlier decisions were intended to protect safety and security and the integrity of its competitions.

In its November 7 update, the IIHF said it was taking the necessary steps under the CAS ruling and discussing a way forward with affected member associations, including the Russian federation. It did not announce a revised World Juniors field or a Russia game schedule.

Will Russia play at the 2027 World Juniors in Canada?

That remains unresolved. The CAS ruling affects sporting eligibility, but a team also needs a workable route into the host country and a place in the competition. The Canadian government has said it will not allow Russia to compete at the World Juniors, according to The Associated Press.

The IIHF has identified visa and entry requirements, security, logistics and competition formats as challenges to immediate reintegration. Those questions matter because organizers have already published a 10-team schedule and sold tickets. A court decision permitting entry into championships does not, by itself, show which games a Russian team would play or how the existing draw would be changed.

Fans should therefore treat claims that Russia is definitely playing—or that a particular team will lose its place—as premature unless organizers announce the field and schedule changes. The IIHF’s latest statement describes discussions and a review of conditions, not a completed tournament plan.

Why were Russia and Belarus excluded from IIHF events?

The IIHF suspended Russian and Belarusian national and club teams from its competitions in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In January 2026, the federation said a risk assessment found that security conditions did not yet allow the two countries’ teams to be safely reintegrated for the 2026–27 season.

Subsequent appeals led to event-by-event reviews. In July, the IIHF Council again excluded Russia from several championships, including the 2027 World Juniors, citing safety, security and sporting-integrity concerns. That earlier World Juniors decision was overtaken by the later CAS ruling on Russia. Belarus’s November decision followed its own separate disciplinary process; the two outcomes should not be treated as interchangeable.

What does the decision mean for the Alberta schedule?

Hockey Canada’s published schedule places Canada, Czechia, Latvia, Norway and Switzerland in the Edmonton preliminary-round group. Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden and the United States are scheduled to play their group games in Red Deer. Neither Russia nor Belarus appears in that announced field.

Canada is scheduled to open against Switzerland on December 26 at 5 p.m. in Edmonton, Mountain Standard Time (UTC−07:00), which is December 27 at 00:00 UTC. The schedule was published before the latest developments, so fans making travel or ticket plans should check Hockey Canada and the IIHF for any official revisions.

If Russia were added, organizers would need to explain the effect on the draw and games; if it does not participate, they would need to resolve how that outcome relates to the CAS ruling. Neither outcome should be assumed from the current statements. The immediate points to watch are further IIHF announcements, Canadian entry decisions and any revised tournament schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Is Belarus playing in the 2027 World Juniors?

No. The IIHF Council says Belarus’s under-20 team will not participate.

Has Russia been reinstated to the World Juniors?

CAS ruled that Russian teams must be allowed to enter IIHF championships, but Russia’s participation in the Alberta tournament has not been confirmed. The IIHF is reviewing implementation, and Canada has said it will not allow Russia to compete.

Where are the 2027 World Juniors being held?

Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, are scheduled to host the tournament from December 26, 2026, through January 5, 2027.