The national teams of Russia and Belarus will not participate in international competitions organized by the IIHF in the 2024–25 season.
The board of the International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF has decided that Russia and Belarus may not participate in international competitions in the 2024–25 season.
The Olympic qualifiers and the World Cup will be played next season. As the feud between Russia and Belarus continues, it means that they probably won’t be seen at the Olympic tournament in Milan in 2026 either.
This year’s World Championships will be played in May in the Czech Republic, Prague and Ostrava. Sweden will host the World Cup tournament in the spring of 2025.
– Based on a thorough analysis, the IIHF board decided that it is not yet safe to return Russian and Belarusian teams to IIHF competitions, the decision was justified in the press release.
The IIHF board consists of 14 people. Representing Finland in the government Heikki Hietanen said earlier that Finland opposes the return of Russia and Belarus.
– Things have not changed, so Finland’s position has not changed at all, Hietanen said.
The IIHF makes decisions regarding Russia and Belarus for one year at a time. The International Ice Hockey Federation says in a press release that it will continue to monitor the situation.
Russia crushed Belarus 7-0 in the 2015 World Cup. ARMANDO BABANI