Finland refuses to play Russia at the 2027 ice hockey world championships while Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, the Finnish Ice Hockey Association (Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto) announced on Monday, 2 November. The decision adds a concrete refusal to the dispute over Russia’s return to international tournaments.
Association chair Heikki Hietanen said the federation would use all available means to prevent Russia from entering the championships. In a statement following Monday’s board meeting, he set out Finland’s position:
“We will not play against Russia as long as its war of aggression against Ukraine continues.”
That does not mean Finland is withdrawing from the entire tournament. The federation is refusing to face Russia if the teams are due to meet, while seeking a collective response from other countries, as Yle reported. It marks a firmer stance than Finland’s initial response to the court ruling, when its association said it would comply with international sporting decisions and did not plan to boycott the championships.
Finland seeks support from other hockey federations
Hietanen said the Finnish association had contacted other Nordic countries and major ice hockey federations elsewhere in Europe. He argued that a coordinated refusal to play Russia would carry more weight with the international governing body than Finland acting alone. He has not named every federation involved.
Norway announced on Tuesday, 3 November that it too would refuse to play Russia at the men’s world championships in Germany in May 2027. The Norwegian Ice Hockey Association (Norges Ishockeyforbund) said it had informed the international federation on Monday and would play its other group matches as scheduled. It cited risks to the safety and wellbeing of its players and staff.
What the ruling means for the 2027 championships
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Friday, 30 October that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) must allow Russian teams to enter five world championships in 2027, reversing exclusions imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The IIHF said it would comply with the ruling, although it maintained that its earlier decisions had been necessary for safety and the integrity of competitions. It warned that changing participation would require new arrangements for tournament formats, schedules, travel and security.
The next men’s world championship is due to take place in Germany in May 2027. In Finland, the city of Turku has warned it would give up co-hosting the 2028 world junior championship if Russia is allowed to compete. The IIHF Council began a two-day meeting on Monday to consider the consequences of the court decision.
