In brief
In early November 2026, Canada announced it would deny visas to members of Russia’s junior hockey squad, despite a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that required their participation in the upcoming World Championships. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova slammed the move as politically motivated and harmful to the sport worldwide, noting the collective support of key Canadian ministers for the decision.
Edmonton and Red Deer were set to welcome 1,000 hockey fans for the 2027 World Junior Championship in a play‑off like host of top teams from around the globe, but the Russian junior squad could not travel because Canadian authorities denied them entry visas in November 2026.
The denial came after a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that required the International Ice Hockey Federation to allow Russian national teams to compete in the 2027 World Championships and related tournaments. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, however, announced that the Canadian government would still refuse visas to Russian players on the national junior team, creating a direct barrier to participation.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova took to a statement titled “Canada’s Decision to Deny Visas to Russian Athletes Harm World Hockey — Zakharova” to criticize the Canadian move. She described the decision as “politically motivated” and said it would damage not only Canada’s own championship but also hockey worldwide.
"With its politically motivated decision, the Canadian government is directly harming not only the World Championship being held in its country but also hockey worldwide," Zakharova said.
She added that Russia’s junior team has historically dominated the World Junior Championships, holding 13 gold, 13 silver, and 11 bronze medals, and urged Canada not to exclude a team that has produced the most medals in history.
"Let us recall whom Mark Carney is trying to keep out of the tournament: a team that has won more medals at the World Junior Championships than any other in history - 13 gold, 13 silver, and 11 bronze medals. Whether such actions will benefit the championship’s entertainment value and appeal to spectators is not a rhetorical question," Zakharova added.
Shortly after announcing the visa refusal, Canadian ministers responsible for foreign affairs, immigration, and sports issued a joint statement supporting the Prime Minister’s decision and reaffirming Canada’s stance against the participation of Russian teams in the tournament.
The visa ruling has triggered debate on the boundaries between sport neutrality and diplomatic actions. While the Court of Arbitration for Sport sought to enforce sporting fairness, the Canadian government opted to uphold its political stance, leading to criticism from Russia and suggestions that sports can be used as leverage in international disputes.
For fans in Edmonton and Red Deer, the decision means an incomplete representation of the global ice hockey community, as the Russian junior team’s absence will affect match schedules, ticket sales, and potentially diminish viewers’ experience during the championship that runs from December 26, 2026 to January 5, 2027.
