Ice Hockey World Cup: Sports Court allows Russia to take part in Germany in 2027

This also includes the men's and women's world championships. Germany is hosting the men's World Cup next year. Russia can also take part in the Women's World Cup in November 2027 in Canada as well as in the Junior and U18 World Championships. The Cas justified its decision by saying that there was insufficient evidence to support the IIHF's safety concerns.

The IIHF said it was disappointed by the ruling and said it maintained the view that the decision was necessary to protect the safety of all participants and preserve the integrity of its competitions. "The IIHF respects the authority of the Cas and will act in accordance with its judgment, but the outcome does not resolve the concerns underlying its assessments."

The German Ice Hockey Association reacted to the re-admission with strong criticism: "Our position remains unchanged: We reject the return of Russian national teams to international ice hockey tournaments," CEO Frank H. Lutz was quoted as saying.

The ruling fundamentally changes the starting position for the 2027 World Cup in Germany. »Accepting Russia has significant security, political and economic consequences for us as hosts. We are now evaluating the verdict together with the IIHF and informing you about the next steps," said Lutz.