Following an IIHF Council meeting, the International Ice Hockey Federation today confirmed that their ban on Russian and Belarusian teams, dating back to their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, was extended through the 2025-26 hockey season.

Citing security reasons, the IIHF extended the ban to a fifth straight season, as the Russian-led invasion is reaching its three-year anniversary, with little signs of slowing down. The ban will continue to restrict Russia and Belarus’ national men’s, women’s and junior teams from participating in, or hosting, international tournaments through at least the 2026 IIHF World Championships, at which point a decision about the following season is due. The Russian Ice Hockey Federation has said they plan to appeal the decision.

This ruling, however, does not impact the 2026 Milan Olympics, as that decision will come down to the International Olympic Committee about whether Russian and Belarusian teams and/or athletes can participate, and whether it would be under their respective flags. Despite their ban, Russia still ranks second for men and sixth for women in the IIHF World Ranking, and is currently qualified as of now, pending the IOC’s decision, for both the men’s and women’s tournaments; Belarus, however, was banned from participating in qualifying, so will not be part of the hockey tournament at the Games.

Russia and Belarus’ Olympic status continues to be controversial, first due to the doping scandal that impacted the Russian 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympic teams, and has since been exacerbated since invading Ukraine. The prospect of individual Russian or Belarusian athletes competing under a neutral flag has been met with protest and skepticism, with threats of boycotts from other countries.

The ban also means that Russia and Belarus will be ineligible for both the 2026 Men’s World Championships in Switzerland, while the Russian women’s team (as Belarus has none) cannot play at this or next year’s Women’s Worlds in Canada. The under-20 junior squads for both Russia and Belarus will miss the 2026 World Juniors in Minnesota, United States, with the 2027 edition in Canada serving as the first potential major tournament they can return to in the 2026-27 season.

Photo Credit: 2021 World Championship – IIHF – HHOF – IOC