Sweden Refuses to Play Russia in Hockey Tournaments
The Swedish Ice Hockey Association says Sweden will skip upcoming world championships after a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling reinstated Russian teams.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Hockey
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Should Canada refuse to play Russia in international hockey tournaments?
The Swedish Ice Hockey Association announced Sweden will not play Russia in coming world championship tournaments, reversing an earlier stance that a boycott was not under consideration. Finland, Denmark, Norway and Latvia have also refused to play Russia, following a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that the IIHF must reinstate Russian teams.
Why it matters
The Nordic federations' refusals put pressure on international hockey governance as the IIHF implements the arbitration ruling. The decisions show how the war in Ukraine continues to shape which national teams will compete against Russia.
Four national federations had refused to play Russia before Sweden's announcement, and the 2028 World Cup of Hockey is planned as an eight-team tournament. Hockey Canada has not yet stated its position on playing Russian teams.
The players
Swedish Ice Hockey Association
The national governing body for ice hockey in Sweden, responsible for the country's men's national team and its participation in international competitions.
International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)
The international governing body for ice hockey, which organizes world championships and was ordered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to reinstate Russian teams.
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The international tribunal based in Lausanne, Switzerland, that resolves sports disputes and issued the Friday ruling requiring the IIHF to reinstate Russia.
Hockey Canada
The governing body for hockey in Canada, which has not yet announced whether it will refuse to play Russia and is assessing the ruling.
Anita Anand
Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, who called the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling 'very unwelcome.'
The details
The Swedish federation's announcement on Tuesday reversed an earlier position from chair Anders Larsson, who had said a boycott was not being considered. The decisions follow a ruling on Friday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that the IIHF must reinstate Russian teams, and Canada's foreign affairs minister Anita Anand called the ruling 'very unwelcome.'
Timeline
Friday: Court of Arbitration for Sport rules that the IIHF must reinstate Russian teams.
Tuesday: Swedish federation announces it will not play Russia.
December 26, 2026: World Junior Championship begins in Edmonton and Red Deer.
May 14-30, 2027: Men's World Championship scheduled in Germany.
February 2028: Planned World Cup of Hockey, which Czech, Swedish and Finnish federations said they would skip if Russia is included.
Season Trajectory
Russia's exclusion from international sport after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine has been the backdrop for federations' decisions on competing against Russian teams. The Nordic refusals now test whether an arbitration ruling can reverse that exclusion in international hockey.
Fans of the World Junior Championship will see whether Canada and other nations take the field against Russian teams when the tournament opens December 26. Nordic federations' refusals could also affect which national teams appear at the men's World Championship in Germany in 2027.
The takeaway
Sports governance decisions made in arbitration can be overridden by national federations' own choices, so the rules for who competes will depend on both. Readers should watch whether Hockey Canada and other federations align with or depart from the Nordic position.
What happens next
The World Junior Championship begins December 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer, and the Men's World Championship runs May 14-30, 2027 in Germany.
Further reading
Follow the latest developments in international competition on our Hockey section.
Live Poll
Should Canada refuse to play Russia in international hockey tournaments?
