England Hockey World Cup Squads 2026 Announced | 11 Y1 Athletes Selected for Belgium & Netherlands
The men and women squads for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, which begins next month across Belgium and the Netherlands. With some of the world's best teams competing for the biggest prize in international hockey, England heads into the tournament with a talented mix of experienced internationals and exciting young players.
Y1 is proud to have 11 sponsored athletes selected across both squads, all of whom will compete using the brand-new Cosmic Range throughout the tournament.
The England Squads Have Been Announced
The FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026 is one month away, and England’s Men and Women are ready. Here’s everything you need to know starting off with the group stages.
11 Y1 Athletes are heading to the World Cup with England
Phil Roper, James Albery, Ollie Payne, Sam Hooper and Ben Fox from the Men’s squad. Flora Peel (C), Anna Toman, Darcy Bourne, Alice Atkinson, Amy Thompson and Katie Curtis will carry the flag in the women’s side.
COSMIC RANGE 26/27
Designed for elite performance, the Cosmic Range has already become a favourite among international players thanks to its combination of power, touch and control. Throughout the tournament, Y1 will be on the ground in Belgium and the Netherlands supporting our athletes and bringing exclusive behind-the-scenes content across our social channels.
England Hockey Women's World Cup Squad:
| Player | Squad no. |
| Alice Atkinson | 39 |
| Grace Balsdon | 31 |
| Lottie Bingham | 44 |
| Darcy Bourne | 2 |
| Fiona Crackles | 21 |
| Katie Curtis | 18 |
| Hannah French | 7 |
| Sophie Hamilton | 23 |
| Sabbie Heesh | 25 |
| Tess Howard | 14 |
| Holly Hunt | 11 |
| Lizzie Neal | 22 |
| Lily Owsley | 26 |
| Flora Peel (C) | 28 |
| Miriam Pritchard | 40 |
| Ellie Rayer | 13 |
| Martha Taylor | 30 |
| Amy Thompson | 10 |
| Anna Toman | 6 |
| Lily Walker (C) | 4 |
England Hockey Men's World Cup Squad:
| Player | Squad no. |
| James Albery | 14 |
| Nick Bandurak | 23 |
| Will Calnan | 31 |
| Henry Croft | 9 |
| Ben Fox | 47 |
| James Gall | 26 |
| David Goodfield | 19 |
| Sam Hooper | 33 |
| James Mazarelo | 16 |
| Tim Nurse | 18 |
| Nick Park | 2 |
| Ollie Payne | 20 |
| Phil Roper | 15 |
| Stuart Rushmere | 17 |
| Liam Sanford | 27 |
| Tom Sorsby | 5 |
| Zach Wallace (C) | 7 |
| Jack Waller | 3 |
| Sam Ward | 13 |
| Conor Williamson | 30 |
When does England play?
England's men's and women's teams will begin their FIH Hockey World Cup campaigns in mid-August, with the tournament taking place across Belgium and the Netherlands from 14–30 August 2026. The group stages will determine who progresses to the knockout rounds before the tournament concludes with the finals on 30 August.
| England Men | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| England vs Pakistan | 15 August | Wavre |
| England vs Chile | 17 August | Wavre |
| England vs Germany | 19 August |
Wavre |
| England Women | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| England vs South Africa | 16 August | Amstelveen |
| England vs Japan | 18 August | Amstelveen |
| England vs Argentina | 20 August | Amstelveen |
England at Previous Hockey World Cups
Adding historical context helps the article rank for broader searches like "England Hockey World Cup history".
England Men
England have been regular competitors at the FIH Hockey World Cup and have produced several memorable campaigns over the years.
- 🥉 1986 – Bronze Medal
- 2010 – Reached the semi-finals before finishing fourth
- 2014 – Quarter-finals
- 2018 – Quarter-finals
- 2023 – Quarter-finals after an impressive pool campaign before losing to eventual champions Germany.
England Women
The England women's programme continues to establish itself amongst the world's elite.
Recent World Cup performances include:
- 2018 – Quarter-finals
- 2022 – Fourth place after reaching the semi-finals, narrowly missing out on a medal.
With an exciting blend of experienced internationals and emerging talent, England will be aiming to challenge for a medal in 2026.
Tournament Format
The 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup brings together the world's best international teams in Belgium and the Netherlands.
After the group stage, the leading teams progress into the knockout rounds, where every match becomes win-or-go-home. The tournament culminates with the men's and women's finals on 30 August 2026, when the next world champions will be crowned.
What Sticks Do International Athletes Use?
- Phil Roper - GLBX
- Anna Toman - ADBX
- James Albery - LBX
- Darcy Bourne - MRX
- Amy Thompson - MRX
- Ben Fox - LBX
- Sam Hooper - BBX
- Katie Curtis - LBX