Austria Joins Boycott of Russia at Hockey Worlds
Austria becomes the seventh European country to boycott matches against Russia at the 2027 World Ice Hockey Championship.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Hockey
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Austria has joined a growing European boycott of matches against the Russian national team at the 2027 World Ice Hockey Championship. Alexander Hellwig, Managing Director of the Austrian Ice Hockey Federation, said it is unacceptable to play against the Russians.
Why it matters
The move adds to a widening European refusal to face Russia in international hockey, with six other countries having already announced similar boycotts of a possible 2027 World Cup match. Hosting and participation decisions could reshape the tournament's schedule and the sport's international competition structure.
Austria is the seventh European country to join the boycott of matches with Russia, following Denmark, Latvia, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic. The boycott positions may still change before May, and it remains unclear how the boycotts will be applied at the 2027 World Cup in Germany.
The players
Alexander Hellwig
Alexander Hellwig is the Managing Director of the Austrian Ice Hockey Federation, who said it is unacceptable to play against the Russians.
Maxim Sushinsky
Maxim Sushinsky is a former player of the Russian national team who commented on the European boycotts.
The details
Austria will not play against Russia at this time, according to the Austrian Ice Hockey Federation. In Finland, the cities of Tampere and Turku have threatened to refuse hosting the 2028 Hockey World Youth Championship if Russians are allowed to compete, and Germany is reportedly ready to abandon the 2027 Adult World Cup under similar conditions.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: Austria announces its boycott of matches with Russia.
Before May 2027: Austria's boycott position may change.
2027: The World Ice Hockey Championship takes place in Germany.
2028: The Hockey World Youth Championship in Finland is threatened with a hosting refusal.
Big Picture
The boycotts extend the sporting restrictions on Russia that followed the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, now applied to a specific 2027 tournament. Seven European countries have now taken a position against facing Russian teams in international ice hockey.
Fans of national teams should watch for whether Austria and the other boycotting countries keep their positions when the 2027 World Cup schedule is set. Hosting decisions in Finland for the 2028 youth championship could also change where the next tournaments are played.
The takeaway
The growing number of boycotts shows how quickly international hockey decisions can shift when governments and federations take positions on Russian participation. Readers should track the May deadline, since Austria's stance and the other boycotts may still change before the 2027 tournament.
What happens next
Austria's boycott position may change before May 2027, and the 2027 World Ice Hockey Championship in Germany will show whether the boycotts hold.
Further reading
For more on the sport's competitive calendar, see Hockey coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Oreanda-news.
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