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.

Russia and Belarus are to remain frozen out of International Ice Hockey Federation competitions through the 2025-26 season.The IIHF decision on Tuesday covers all world championships and effectively next year’s Winter Olympic Games in Italy,

Russian and Belarusian ice hockey teams will remain banned from competitions organized by the international ruling body IIHF in the 2025-26 season, the IIHF said on Tuesday in a statement. "Following its latest meeting this morning,