IIHF announces groups for 2027 men’s ice hockey world championship with no mention of Russia

ZURICH (AP) — The International Ice Hockey Federation has announced the groups for next year’s men’s world championship without listing Russia, after last month saying the country’s eligibility would be decided “on an event-by-event basis.”

Host nation Germany shares a group with Sweden and defending champion Finland, the IIHF said Monday. The United States and Canada will be based in Düsseldorf for the May 2027 tournament, along with six other teams including Czechia and Slovakia.

Ukraine is in Germany’s group as it returns to the top level of IIHF men’s play for the first time in 20 years after qualifying through a second-tier tournament last month.

Russia was not included in either of the two eight-team groups. It would be the sixth men’s world championship it misses in a row since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russia was also excluded from this year’s Olympic hockey tournaments as a result.