This August, the eyes of the hockey world turn to Belgium and the Netherlands. The two nations are joining forces to host the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, one of the biggest events in the sport's history and a genuine first for Belgian sport.
When Is the 2026 Hockey World Cup?
The tournament runs from 15 to 30 August 2026, split across two host cities.
- Wavre, Belgium, home of the brand-new Belfius Hockey Arena, where the Red Lions and Red Panthers will play their group matches in front of a home crowd for the first time ever at a World Cup.
- Amstelveen, Netherlands, the iconic Wagener Stadium, a fixture of Dutch hockey and one of the sport's true cathedrals.
It's a landmark moment for Belgium in particular. This is the country's first time hosting the Hockey World Cup, and it's the first ever team-sport world championship to be held in French-speaking Belgium.
Who Are the Favourites?
Sixteen men's teams and sixteen women's teams will compete for world honours, and the reigning champions arrive with plenty to defend.
The Netherlands head into the tournament as reigning Olympic champions in both the men's and women's competitions. The Dutch women also hold the current World and European titles, making them the team to beat on home soil. Germany's men arrive as both reigning World and European champions, fresh off a run of dominant form. Belgium, the host nation, will be desperate to go one better than their silver medal at the last World Cup, this time in front of their own fans.
With the last World Cup in 2023 and the Paris Olympics in 2024 now behind them, every squad has had just over two years to rebuild and refine before the sport's biggest stage returns.
How Does the Tournament Work?
The road to the title unfolds in three stages.
- Group stage. The 16 teams are split into four pools of four, and the top two from each pool advance.
- Intermediate round. The eight qualifiers are re-drawn into two new groups of four, and the top two from each progress.
- Medal matches. A straight knockout format decides who takes gold, silver and bronze.
2026 Hockey World Cup Pools
Men's Tournament
- Pool A: Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, Japan
- Pool B: Belgium, Germany, France, Malaysia
- Pool C: Australia, Spain, Ireland, South Africa
- Pool D: England, India, Pakistan, Wales
Women's Tournament
- Pool A: Netherlands, Australia, Chile, Japan
- Pool B: Argentina, Germany, USA, Scotland
- Pool C: Belgium, Spain, New Zealand, Ireland
- Pool D: China, England, India, South Africa
Every group has real edge to it. Pool B in the men's draw pits hosts Belgium against European champions Germany, while the women's Pool C throws Belgium in alongside the Netherlands's closest rivals in Spain and New Zealand.
Getting to the Host Cities
The two host cities are well connected for anyone planning to follow the action in person. Wavre sits around 25km from Brussels Airport, while Amstelveen is just 10km from Amsterdam Schiphol. High-speed rail links Brussels and Amsterdam in under two hours, so it's entirely possible to catch matches in both countries during the same trip.
Why This World Cup Matters
Co-hosting across two countries is a first for the tournament, and it sets up a genuinely unique fortnight of hockey: home nations on both sides of the border, Olympic champions defending their crowns, and a new arena in Wavre ready to make its mark on the sport's history. Whether you're courtside in Amstelveen or following along from home, the 2026 Hockey World Cup promises to be one of the most competitive editions yet.
Stay tuned to our site for match previews, results and standings updates throughout the tournament.
Shop the Y1 2026 Cosmic Range as used in the World Cup
