IIHF decides Russia and Belarus will remain ineligible for international hockey tournaments in 2025-26
Flyers fans might have to wait a while to see Matvei Michkov and Russia in another international tournament, and that includes next year's Winter Olympics in Italy.

Matvei Michkov’s senior debut for Russia in an officially sanctioned tournament will have to wait.
The International Ice Hockey Federation ruled Tuesday that Russia and Belarus will remain ineligible for tournaments for the 2025-26 season as it “believes it is not yet safe to reintegrate” the two countries into tournaments. Both countries have been banned since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“As the current security conditions do not allow the necessary requirements for the organization of tournaments guaranteeing the safety of all, the IIHF must maintain the current status quo until further notice,” the federation said in a statement.
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The news means that Michkov and Russia will not participate in the 2025 World Championships in May. It also is a blow to Russia’s chances of being cleared in time for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, although the IIHF does not have the final call there.
The International Olympic Committee will decide Russia’s fate for the Olympics at a later date, but Tuesday’s ruling seems like a precursor to an eventual “no” on that front. Belarus will not participate in the 2026 Olympics, as it was not cleared in time to compete the qualification tournament.
“We want [Russia] back as soon as possible,” IIHF president Luc Tardif said at the World Junior Championships in January. “It will mean the war will be over.”
The 2026 Olympics are set to be the first Olympics since 2014 in which NHL players will participate. The NHL will hold its inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament starting Feb. 12 to whet the appetite for international hockey and build momentum for next year. That NHL-run “best on best” tournament will be contested by Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Finland and also notably does not include Russia.
Many will argue that a men’s international ice hockey tournament cannot truly be considered best on best without Russia’s participation. The nation currently boasts 61 NHL players — fourth among all countries behind Canada, the U.S., and Sweden — including several of the league’s biggest stars like Alexander Ovechkin, Nikita Kucherov, and Kirill Kaprizov.
The Soviet Union/Russia also has been the second-most successful federation historically behind Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships (27 gold medals) and IIHF World Junior Championships (13 golds). Russia, if eligible, would be a strong contender for a medal at the 2026 Games.
Michkov isn’t the only Flyer affected by Tuesday’s ruling. Recent acquisition Andrei Kuzmenko had a chance of sneaking onto Russia’s roster with a good next year, while goaltender Aleksei Kolosov likely would have earned a spot with Belarus, had it qualified.
Flyers backup goaltender Ivan Fedotov‚ while also Russian, would not have much of a chance to make the Olympic team, given Russia’s strength at the position with Igor Shesterkin, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Ilya Sorokin, and former Flyer Sergei Bobrovsky. Egor Zamula also likely would have been on the outside looking in for Russia. Finally, top Flyers goaltending prospect Egor Zavragin, who would have been eligible, age-wise, for next year’s World Juniors, will now miss out on that tournament because of the ban being upheld.