Norway's National Team Refuses to Play Against Russia at the 2027 Ice Hockey World Championship

The Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation notified the IIHF on November 2 that it will not play against the Russian national team at the 2027 World Championship in Germany, citing risks to the players' safety and their psychological well-being. This decision follows the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling requiring the IIHF to allow Russian teams to participate in the 2026/27 season. While the official schedule does not yet include a match between Norway and Russia, the federation's stance highlights growing resistance among national bodies to Russia's return to international competitions.

Aziz KarimovFirst published on tafs uz 3 November 2026 at 17:192 min read

The key facts

Norway officially notified the IIHF on November 2 of its refusal to play against Russia at the 2027 World Championship.
The federation cited concerns for the safety and psychological well-being of players as the reason for the decision.
The current tournament schedule does not yet include a match between Norway and Russia.

Norway announced a boycott of the match against Russia

The Norwegian national ice hockey team will not take the ice against the Russian team at the 2027 World Championship if the draw or changes in the list of participants bring the rivals together at the tournament. According to Life.ru reports citing the decision of the Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation, the notification to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) was sent on November 2.

Motives behind the decision and its formal framework

In the federation's statement it was said: 'Norway, based on the current situation and available information, will not play against Russia at the World Championship in Germany in May 2027. The remaining group stage matches will proceed as scheduled.' The federation explained the boycott by concerns for the safety of the players, coaching staff, and their families, as well as the fact that a meeting with the Russians under current circumstances could negatively affect the psychological state of the players. The federation reaffirmed its position against Russia's participation in international competitions. At the same time, the decision itself is conditional: the approved championship schedule does not yet include a match between the Norwegian and Russian teams, and the procedure for the Russians' return and possible changes to the list of participants still need to be determined by the IIHF.

Context: Russia's admission and Germany's reaction

Norway's decision became part of a broader situation surrounding the return of Russian national teams to the international arena. Earlier, Life.ru reported that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordered the IIHF to admit Russian teams to international competitions for the 2026/27 season. Already on November 2, the German Ice Hockey Federation warned of a possible refusal to host the world championship due to Russia's return, even though Germany has been entrusted with hosting the tournament from May 14 to 30, 2027. Thus, the question of the Russian national team's participation in the 2027 World Championship remains open: there is formal admission based on the CAS decision, but specific national federations have stated their readiness not to play or not to host the tournament.