16th edition. 16 teams. A fresh format. One Trophy. The FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup is back as it brings the world’s elite hockey teams together in Belgium and the Netherlands, the co-hosts of the competition that starts from August 15.
The World Cup is hockey’s biggest prize alongside the Olympics, where legends are made and legacies are set. Germany arrive as the reigning champions after a dramatic triumph in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela in 2023. Co-hosts Belgium, on home soil, will be looking to add a second World Cup crown to the one they won in 2018.
India, Australia, the Netherlands and Pakistan are among the teams whose names are woven deeply into the history of this competition. Pakistan are the most successful men’s World Cup team, with four
titles, while Australia, the Netherlands and Germany have each lifted the trophy three times.
Here’s all you need to know.
The Dates
The FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 will get underway from August 15 when India will face Wales in the opening clash. The final will be played on August 30.
The Venues
The matches will be played across two venues:
- Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre (Belgium): It’s a purpose-built venue and has hosted top-level competitions in the past. Its capacity was increased from 4,000 to 10,000 for the World Cup.
- Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen (Netherlands): The venue has been named after former Hockey Club Amsterdam chairman Joop Wagener. It’s a historic venue built in 1938, and it has witnessed numerous top-level hockey events including the 1973 Hockey World Cup, the 2022 Women’s World Cup, and the Champions Trophy, among others. Its capacity was expanded from 8,000 to 10,000 for the 2026 World Cup.
The Teams
The men’s event features 16 teams from around the world. They have been divided into four pools of four each.
- Pool A: Argentina, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand
- Pool B: Belgium, France, Germany, Malaysia
- Pool C: Australia, Spain, Ireland, South Africa
- Pool D: England, India, Pakistan, Wales
The Format
A new format has been introduced for the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup. There will be two initial stages followed by semis, final and classification matches.
Pool Stage
The teams have been divided into four pools – A, B, C & D – of four each. In each pool, a team faces the other three once. Top two teams from each pool will advance to the next stage.
Second Stage
The top two teams from Pools A and D will form Pool E, while the corresponding teams from Pools B and C will form Pool F. At this stage, each team will play two matches.
The teams that came through the same pool will not face each other again in this Second Stage. However, the result achieved against the country already played in the first group stage will also be counted toward the final ranking in the new Pool.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals.
The Pool E matches will be held in the Netherlands while Pool F matches will be played in Belgium.
Classification Stage
The teams that finished 3rd and fourth in each pool of the Pool Stage (first round) will form new groups: Pools G and H. The teams in this stage will compete for 9th-16th place.
Hockey World Cup Full List Of Past Winners
| Edition | Venue | Winner | Runners-up | Third-Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Bhubaneswar & Rourkela (India) | Germany | Belgium | Netherlands |
| 2018 | Bhubaneswar (India) | Belgium | Netherlands | Australia |
| 2014 | The Hague (Netherlands) | Australia | Netherlands | Argentina |
| 2010 | New Delhi (India) | Australia | Germany | Netherlands |
| 2006 | Mönchengladbach (Germany) | Germany | Australia | Spain |
| 2002 | Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) | Germany | Australia | Netherlands |
| 1998 | Utrecht (Netherlands) | Netherlands | Spain | Australia |
| 1994 | Sydney (Australia) | Pakistan | Netherlands | Australia |
| 1990 | Lahore (Pakistan) | Netherlands | Pakistan | Australia |
| 1986 | London (England) | Australia | England | West Germany |
| 1982 | Bombay (India) | Pakistan | West Germany | Netherlands |
| 1978 | Buenos Aires (Argentina) | Pakistan | Netherlands | Australia |
| 1975 | Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) | India | Pakistan | West Germany |
| 1973 | Amstelveen (Netherlands) | Netherlands | India | West Germany |
| 1971 | Barcelona (Spain) | Pakistan | India | West Germany |
How The Teams Qualified?
| Dates | Qualification Event | Qualified Team(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 November 2022 | Hosts | Belgium, Netherlands |
| 6 December 2023 – 30 June 2024 | FIH Pro League 2023-24 | Australia |
| 30 November 2024 – 29 June 2025 | FIH Pro League 2024-25 | Spain |
| 24 July – 3 August 2025 | Pan American Cup 2025 | Argentina |
| 8–16 August 2025 | EuroHockey Championship 2025 | Germany, India |
| 29 August – 7 September 2025 | Asia Cup 2025 | New Zealand |
| 4–7 September 2025 | Oceania Cup 2025 | New Zealand |
| 11–18 October 2025 | Africa Cup of Nations 2025 | South Africa |
| 1–7 March 2026 | World Cup Qualifier 2026 | England, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan |
| 1–8 March 2026 | World Cup Qualifier 2026 | France, Ireland, Wales |
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