Canada Blocks Russian Hockey Players' Visas for 2027 World…
The IIHF confirms that, due to the position and restrictions officially declared by the Government of Canada, the Russian youth national team will not be able to participate in the Youth World Hockey Championship. The Youth World Hockey Championship will take place from December 26 to January 5, 2027.
Consensus
- Canada has refused to issue visas to Russian athletes for the 2027 U18 Ice Hockey World Championship.
- The decision applies to Russian players who already hold valid visas for playing in Canadian clubs.
- Russian players cannot participate even under a neutral flag.
- The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that Russia should be allowed to participate in international tournaments.
- The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) agreed to comply with the CAS ruling.
- The tournament is scheduled to take place in Canada from December 26, 2026, to January 5, 2027.
- Canada's government stated that the decision is not aimed at the Russian or Belarusian people but at preventing state propaganda through sports events.
- The Canadian government emphasized that the neutral athlete status applies only to individuals, not national teams.
Points of divergence
- A sports lawyer, Darya Nikitina, suggested that the issue could be resolved through negotiations between the foreign ministries of Russia and Canada. — vesti
- The IIHF may impose sanctions on Canada, including relocating the championship, though this is considered unlikely due to timing. — meduza
- The Russian ambassador to Canada called the visa refusal 'cowardice' and accused the Canadian government of 'anti-Russian hysteria'. — vedomosti
- The Russian Minister of Sport, Mikhail Degtyarev, stated that Russia has prepared an alternative plan in case of visa denial. — vm
- Several major hockey federations (Canada, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Czechia, Latvia) and sponsors opposed Russia's participation and threatened to terminate contracts with IIHF. — meduza
- Germany is considering holding the World Championship without Russia despite the CAS ruling. — tvrain
Coverage (20 sources)
- Russia will not be able to participate in the youth World Championship in hockey in Canada, said the international federation — DW Главное
- IIHF: Russia will not participate in the World Youth Championship — Вести
- Russian hockey team not allowed to youth World Championship due to Canada authorities position — Коммерсантъ
- Head of FHR Tretyak called denial of Russian team access to CHM a violation of human rights — Вести
- "Fear us?": hockey player Kamensky speculated why Canada does not allow Russia to the World Championship — Вести
- Degtyarev stated the need to punish the Olympic Committee of Canada — Вести
- In the Crimean parliament, Canada's refusal to issue visas to the Russian national team was called 'lawlessness' — Вести
- Canadian authorities feared fair competition and refused to issue visas to Russian hockey players for participation in the youth... — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Lawyer revealed way to resolve issue with Russian hockey players' visas in Canada — Вести
- Looks like Russia's return to big hockey ended before it could begin. Canada, host of the upcoming championship, simply refused to give Russians visas. Formally, the tournament may be moved to another country. But this is unlikely to happen. — Meduza
- Zhurova assessed Canada's attempts to prevent Russian hockey players from attending the youth World Championship — Вести
- "Because of Russophobia": Fetisov explained why Canada does not give visas to hockey players from the Russian Federation — Вести
- Canadian Minister of Sport explained refusal to issue visas for Russian hockey players at IIHF World Junior Championship 2027 — Вечерняя Москва
- Ambassador in Canada called refusal of visas to hockey players cowardice — Ведомости
- Ambassador Stepanov called Canada's refusal to issue visas to Russian hockey players cowardice — Вечерняя Москва
- Ambassador Stepanov: Canada was scared of fair fight with Russians on ice — Вести
- Canada will not issue visas to Russians for youth world hockey championship — РИАМО
- Youth World Hockey Championship in question: Fasel recommended IIHF cancel tournament — Вести
- Canada notified IIHF of refusal of visas for Russians at youth World Championship — Ведомости
- Zakhrova: Canada has no right to host the IIHF World Junior Championship due to visa refusals for Russians — Вечерняя Москва
Key entities
- Canada
- Russia
- International Ice Hockey Federation
- Moscow
- TSN
- Stepanov
- Ottawa
- Marka Karni
- IT 'News'
- TASS
- Hockey Federation
- MID
- Crimea
- Maria Zakharov
More on Stepanov
- Ottawa is eliminating serious opponents before the game begins by…
- A hearing took place at the Petrogradsky District Court in St.…
- Bolsunova and Stepanov have been included in the team for the first…
More on Marka Karni
- Canada has banned Russian and Belarusian hockey players from…
- The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has decided to…
- Ottawa is eliminating serious opponents before the game begins by…