That review, expected in May, now carries far more weight than anyone anticipated.Russia’s 2028 World Cup push raises boycott stakes and forces IIHF into a credibility testThe issue is simple on the surface but layered underneath.
IIHF will stick with 3-on-3 overtime despite criticism after Olympic hockey gold-medal games 🔗⬇️https.//t.co/aoal0wcWLUhttps.//t.co/aoal0wcWLU— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 24, 2026.
He noted that at the most recent meeting of the IIHF, they decided to prepare for a potential return of Russia and Belarus into under-18 competition in the 2027-28 season ... that’s the family of IIHF.
From there, the text raises the tone and questions the very nature of the decisions taken by the IIHF since the start of the war in Ukraine... Our IIHF Council Members are committed to ensuring the game we love is fair, safe and clean.
While Russian and Belarusian national and club teams won't be reintegrated into IIHF championships in 2026-27, the IIHF will consider reintegrating U-18 players in 2027-28 ....