Tre Kronor Refuses to Play Russia in World Championship Matches
Sweden will enter the upcoming men’s ice hockey World Championship, but the national team will forfeit any match against Russia rather than take to the ice, Swedish Ice Hockey Association Chairman Anders Larsson announced on Tuesday. The decision follows identical announcements from Finland, Norway, and Denmark earlier in the week in response to the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturning Russia’s international ban.
The Swedish stance applies strictly to matches against Russia and does not constitute a full tournament boycott, according to an official statement from the association. “The Swedish line is crystal clear: Sweden will not play ice hockey matches against Russia in the situation we are in right now,” the board wrote. The restriction covers all upcoming international tournaments, including the upcoming World Junior Championship starting on December 26, as reported by Aftonbladet.
Sweden and Norway have joined Finland in refusing to play matches against Russia at the ice hockey world championships, deepening a major rift in the sport following a controversial CAS ruling. The joint stance comes after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the… pic.twitter.com/dsE8UhAM51
Court Rules International Ice Hockey Federation Cannot Bar Russia
Russia has been barred from international ice hockey championships since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in October 2026 that the International Ice Hockey Federation could not legally justify keeping the country out based on security concerns, clearing the way for Russian teams to return to global competition across senior and junior divisions.
Junior national team coach Magnus Hävelid voiced support for the association’s directive during a training camp in Nyköping, stating that forfeiting matches against Russia is a sacrifice he can accept given the broader geopolitical context. Players on the junior squad also expressed backing for the federation’s unified stance among Nordic neighbors.
Men World Championship Schedules Tournament in Germany
The men’s World Championship is scheduled to run from May 14 to May 30, 2027, in Germany.
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BREAKING – Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden refuse to play against Russia in the ice hockey world championships
Denmark, Norway and Sweden have joined Finland in refusing to play against Russia at the 2027 Ice Hockey World Championships over the war in Ukraine. The move follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling ordering Russia’s admission to the tournament in Germany. The… pic.twitter.com/dEQacdEnc7
BREAKING – Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden refuse to face Russia in the ice hockey world championshipshttps://t.co/l9BxtKvqGW
BREAKING: Sweden and Norway announce that their ice hockey teams will follow Finland’s decision and will refuse to play against Russia in the World Cup next year. CAS recently ruled that Russia must be allowed to return to the sport and that the Russian team will play in the… pic.twitter.com/409AGZgWKo
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