Russia has found a way to circumvent all sanctions and get to the World Cup of Hockey

The Russian national team may take part in the 2028 IIHF Ice Hockey World Cup, according to Russian propagandists Match TV. This decision is related to the economic interests of the National Hockey League (NHL), which will organize the tournament without the participation of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The information that the 2028 World Cup will indeed be held without the IIHF's participation was confirmed the day before by NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.

In this scenario, the NHL will not have to share profits with the international federation, and it will be possible to implement the necessary tournament formats without the IIHF's participation.

Russia does not participate in the World Cup and the Olympics because of sanctions related to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but the NHL does not interfere in politics and is focused on the hockey business, according to a Match TV source familiar with the situation.

In 2016, the World Cup brought the NHL $30 million, which was divided between team owners and the hockey players' union. This money shows that the league is successful as a business.

According to the plans, the World Cup of Hockey will become a traditional tournament held every four years. In 2028, in addition to Canada and the United States, the national teams of Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, and Russia are expected to participate in the tournament. A team of young North American stars is also being considered, and another participant will be selected later. So far, Russia's participation has not been confirmed, but it is seen as a profitable business decision.

For reference:

1. The World Ice Hockey Championship is a tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and held annually. National teams participate in it and it is considered the main international tournament for IIHF member countries. This tournament determines the world champion among national ice hockey teams for the year.
2. The World Cup of Hockey is a less regular competition organized by the National Hockey League (NHL), usually held every few years. The World Cup has a different format, often featuring the best players who play in the NHL, and teams are formed with this in mind. The World Cup tournament is often used to showcase the best hockey players in the world, as well as to promote hockey as a sport in different countries.

The main difference is that the World Championship is organized by the IIHF and focuses on national teams, while the World Cup is a tournament organized by the NHL, where the best players participate, regardless of their nationality.

Earlier it became known that the International Ice Hockey Federation had suspended Belarus and Russia from the 2024/2025 season. This means that both teams will miss the World Championship in May, and the team from Belarus will miss the Olympic qualifiers.

In the spring of 2022, the IIHF Council suspended the national teams of Russia and Belarus from international competitions indefinitely due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In February 2024, the organization extended the sanctions for the 2024/25 season.

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