Sweden's and Denmark's ice hockey federations said on November 3 that their national teams would not play Russia in international competitions. Reuters reported a similar position from Czechia, citing its national association. Sweden and Denmark said they intend to play their other scheduled games rather than boycott entire championships.
The Swedish Ice Hockey Federation said its board had decided that Sweden would not play Russian national teams under current circumstances. It stressed that Russia's presence in a tournament would not, in itself, cause Sweden to withdraw from its other matches.
Denmark's federation said its team would not take the ice against Russia at the 2027 World Championship in Germany. Denmark intends to play its remaining games as scheduled and has informed the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) of its decision.
Latvia's federation reaffirmed its position, maintained since 2022, of not playing Russia or Belarus. It said Latvia, Finland, Norway and Denmark had informed the IIHF of their shared position. Sweden also made a public commitment not to play Russia, while Reuters reported the Czech association's stance.
The federations linked their decisions to Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine and concerns about the safety and physical and psychological well-being of those involved. The main 2027 World Championship games will take place in Düsseldorf and Mannheim from May 14 to 30, with a separate opening game in Gelsenkirchen on May 13.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) previously overturned restrictions on Russian teams competing in several international ice hockey tournaments in 2027. The IIHF said it would comply with the ruling despite disagreeing with it.