Upcoming 36th Men & 27th Women editions of the Africa Cup for Club Champions [ACCC] taking place in Harare, Zimbabwe during the period 24-31 January 2026. #ACCC #AfricaHockeyNews
LA28 ticket draw registration is now open – don’t miss out!
14 Jan, 2026 The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is delighted to inform the global hockey community that the registration for the LA28 Ticket Draw for all Olympic sports has now begun on Tickets.LA28.org. Registration for the ticket draw marks the first chance for fans to attend the LA28 Games, providing the opportunity to secure a time slot to purchase tickets*. With a variety of options for everyone to experience the Games in person, single tickets will start at $28. The LA28 ticket process will be powered by LA28’s Official Ticketing Service Provider AXS AND EVENTIM. Fans interested in purchasing tickets must first register for the ticket draw on Tickets.LA28.org (from now on). Registration is the first step for a chance to secure a time slot to purchase tickets*. For the latest updates, fans can sign up for the LA28 newsletter. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to watch and support the world’s best hockey athletes as they play out their Olympic dreams in two years’ time! *NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT REQUIRED TO REGISTER, ENTER OR WIN. RESTRICTIONS APPLY. ELIGIBILITY SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION. MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE AT TIME OF REGISTRATION. TERMS, DEADLINES AND PROCESS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. VISIT LA28.ORG ON OR AFTER 1/14/26 FOR OFFICIAL TERMS. TICKET AVAILABILITY NOT GUARANTEED AND TICKET PURCHASES SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS HERE. This major milestone comes after FIH announced last month the qualification system for both LA28 hockey tournaments, women’s and men’s. Like the last editions since the Beijing Olympics in 2008, 12 teams per gender will participate in the quadrennial mega-event, including the host nation, the USA. The remaining 11 participating teams per gender will result from the following events: FIH Hockey Pro League: the highest placed nation in the FIH Hockey Pro League Seasons 2025-26 and 2026-27 will qualify; if the same team that wins the 2025-26 Season also wins the 2026-27 Season, the runner up of the 2026-27 Season will qualify Continental Championships*: the highest placed team in each of the five continental championships that is not already qualified as host or through the FIH Hockey Pro League will qualify; should the nations that qualified through the FIH Hockey Pro League be the highest placed in their continental championships, the next highest placed nation in such continental championship will qualify** FIH Olympic Qualification Tournaments: there will be four tournaments (two per gender) consisting of eight teams each, held in early 2028; the top two teams in each tournament will qualify and therefore complete the line-up of participating teams Located just outside downtown Los Angeles, Carson Field, which are adjacent to the world renowned venue that serves as the home of the LA Galaxy football team, will be transformed into a state-of-the-art hockey venue, equipped to host thrilling matches, vibrant fan activations, and moments that will shape the next chapter of Olympic hockey history. Hockey has been an Olympic sport since 1908. The Netherlands won both Gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics. *The Continental Championships include: African Hockey Road to LA28 (scheduled in 2027) 20th Pan American Games (scheduled in 2027) 20th Asian Games (scheduled in 2026) EuroHockey Championship (scheduled in 2027) Oceania Cup (scheduled in 2027) **Should the USA win the 20th Pan American Games in 2027, the second placed nation will not subsequently qualify; instead the quota place will be allocated through the FIH Olympic Qualification Tournaments For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website. Photo credit: Getty Images #MadeForHockey #LA28
What are the key takeaways from the teams that played in their first Junior World Cup? Let’s hear from them!
08 Jan, 2026 The year 2025 concluded with both the FIH Hockey Junior World Cups, women’s and men’s, which, for the very first time, featured a record total of 48 teams! This was made possible by a decision from FIH, in line with its Empowerment and Engagement strategy, to increase participation in FIH events and thereby provide emerging nations with a better opportunity to take part in these events. As a result of this bold move, six teams made their debut in the tournament last month: Namibia (women), Bangladesh, China, Namibia, Oman and Switzerland (men). In this video, you will hear from these teams about their expectations prior to the event, their experiences, and their main takeaways! Source: FIH.hockey
All Eyes on 2026: The Race for FIH Hockey World Cup Begins!
As the global hockey family turns the page to 2026, anticipation is at an all-time high. This year promises to be one of the most exciting in our sport’s history, highlighted by the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, the premier event on the international calendar. But first, teams from around the world will battle fiercely in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers, the first big milestone of the year. 06 Jan, 2026 As the global hockey family turns the page to 2026, anticipation is at an all-time high. This year promises to be one of the most exciting in our sport’s history, highlighted by the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, the premier event on the international calendar. But first, teams from around the world will battle fiercely in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers, the first big milestone of the year. World Cup Qualifiers Set the Stage for Global Glory (Feb-Mar 2026) The journey toward the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup begins with a thrilling series of qualification tournaments hosted across three continents. These events represent the final stage of qualification and will determine which teams secure their place alongside automatic qualifiers at hockey’s biggest stage later this year. In Santiago, Chile, from 28 February to 8 March 2026, both men’s and women’s teams will take to the pitch in an intense battle for World Cup berths. Meanwhile, Ismailia, Egypt (1-7 March) will host the men’s qualifier and Hyderabad, India (8-14 March) will be the venue for the women’s event. City of Santiago, Chile (28 February – 8 March 2026) Women: Australia, Japan, Ireland, Chile, France, Canada, Malaysia and Switzerland Men: France, Ireland, Korea, Wales, Scotland, Canada, Poland and Chile Ismailia, Egypt (1–7 March 2026) Men: England, Malaysia, Pakistan, Egypt, Japan, Austria, China and USA Hyderabad, Telangana, India (8 – 14 March 2026) Women: England, India, Scotland, Korea, Italy, Uruguay, Wales and Austria These qualifiers are more than just matches, they represent dreams in motion. Seven teams per gender will qualify through these events, which promise to be among the highlights of the FIH calendar next year. The teams finishing first, second, and third in each tournament will secure their place at next year’s FIH flagship event. The highest world-ranked team among those finishing in fourth place in each event will be the seventh team to qualify (see Qualification System here). From established hockey powers to rising nations hungry for a breakthrough, every game in Santiago, Ismailia and Hyderabad will electrify fans and set the tone for a historic year ahead. Countdown to the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026 (15-30 August) As summer unfolds, the spotlight will shift to Europe for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, a celebration of hockey at its highest level. Scheduled from 15 to 30 August 2026, this edition unites the best teams in the world in two iconic hockey nations — combining elite competition with passionate local support and unforgettable atmospheres. With 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams competing (9 teams in each competition having already qualified), the World Cup promises thrilling group battles, intense knockout drama and historic rivalries played out across world-class venues in Wavre, Belgium and Amstelveen, Netherlands. This event marks just the third time in history that the men’s and women’s World Cups will be staged together in an inspiring demonstration of unity, excellence and the global growth of hockey. With host nations boasting rich hockey legacies and ardent supporters, the spectacle promises unforgettable highlights from the opening whistle to the finals. Looking Ahead: A Year of Competition, Passion and Global Stories From the first whistle in February to the dramatic finals in August, 2026 will be a defining chapter for international hockey. Emerging talents will shine, storied traditions will continue, and the sport’s global community will come together in celebration. Whether you’re cheering at a qualifier in Santiago, Egypt or Hyderabad or planning your trip to Belgium and the Netherlands, make this a year to remember, because hockey’s greatest moments start here. Source: FIH.hockey
Emma Terho reflects on an exciting 2025 for athletes
05 Jan, 2026 As she prepares for her last event in her current role at Milano Cortina 2026, Emma Terho looks back on her final year as IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair, including the election of a new IOC President and the latest edition of the International Athletes’ Forum. Dear athletes, As we head towards a new year and attention turns to Milano Cortina 2026, I look ahead with great excitement for what’s to come – even though my tenure as IOC AC Chair is coming to an end. With President Kirsty Coventry leading the IOC into a new era, I can’t wait to see how the Olympic Movement advances – particularly for you, the athletes – under her leadership. For now, though, I want to reflect on the last 12 months, which have brought some exciting developments. A new direction The election of President Coventry in March was significant for many reasons. First, she created history by becoming the first woman and the first African to lead the IOC. Second, not only is Kirsty a former athlete and a two-time Olympic gold medallist, she is also an experienced athlete representative, having been a member of our Commission from 2013 to 2021 and Chair for the final three of those years. As someone who lived the life of a top-level athlete before going on to make such an impact for her fellow athletes off the field of play, President Coventry is an outstanding person to take the Olympic Movement forward. Her desire to ensure the athletes’ voice is heard has already been shown through the “Fit for the Future” consultation, which many of you will have taken part in. Your feedback will prove vital for President Coventry as she unveils the latest strategic roadmap for the IOC in 2026. Our support for you In addition to ensuring a positive athlete experience during the Olympic Games, one of my main goals as Chair has been to ensure we are providing the support you need off the field of play. I am happy that, in 2025, we have been able to advance in this area: The Athlete365 community continues to grow, now with more than 205,000 Olympians, elite athletes and entourage members around the world 51 athletes took part in the Broadcast Training Programme and Olympic Commentary Training with Olympic Broadcasting Services, with many set to take up paid positions at Milano Cortina 2026 29 Athlete365 Career+ workshops were delivered and 19 new educators were trained to ensure we are providing this support in a range of countries and languages The Athlete365 Business Accelerator reached nearly 1,000 athletes worldwide, with 50 selected to receive one-to-one mentorship Eight more athletes received full IOC scholarships to take part in two Innovation in Action programmes at IMD Business School We launched three new Athlete365 Learning courses: Start your e-commerce journey with Alibaba.com and Power Up Your Future Stronger together In June, the 12th edition of the International Athletes’ Forum (IAF) demonstrated the growing strength of our global network as we welcomed more than 400 athlete representatives to Lausanne. During two days of panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities, we announced that there are now 200 National Olympic Committees with their own athletes’ commissions – an incredible milestone. My personal highlights were the many discussions with athlete representatives from all over the world, as well as my fireside chat with President Coventry – who reflected on her extraordinary journey from being a young girl inspired by the Olympic Games to becoming IOC President – and an emotional final Q&A session with now-Honorary President Thomas Bach. We also had a surprise appearance from tennis legend Rafael Nadal, updates on athlete support and the athlete experience at upcoming Olympic Games, and six expert-led parallel sessions on important topics like anti-doping, mental health and sustainability. Meeting so many passionate athlete representatives from all over the globe always makes these forums so special, and the 2025 edition will live long in the memory for me. End of an era The IOC AC has been a massive part of my life for the last eight years, and even more so since 2021, when I was elected Chair. I’m immensely proud of our group and the work we’ve done together, from refining and improving the athlete experience at the Olympic Games to growing the network of athlete representatives and expanding our support for you. A particularly special moment for me was Paris 2024, where athlete-driven initiatives such as the Mind Zone, the Champions Park medal reallocations and the family space were tangible evidence of the impact that we can have. I also want to take this opportunity to thank all the athletes I have had the pleasure of meeting as part of this role, and every single athlete representative around the world for all the work you do – your work is very meaningful for the future of sport, and you’ve made my time as IOC AC Chair a real joy and privilege. A busy finale My work in this role isn’t quite done yet, however, with a busy January in store as we make the final preparations for Milano Cortina 2026. Together with our Vice-Chairs, we have been working to ensure a smooth transition for the next leadership of our Commission, which I have no doubt will be great. As Abhinav, Astrid, Hong and I prepare to step down from our roles on the IOC AC, please be sure to familiarise yourself with the 11 candidates and vote in the election. After the results are announced on 19 February, the Commission will then elect a new Chair. For those of you gearing up to compete, don’t miss our Get Ready Pack, designed specifically to ensure you have the best experience possible at the Games. As always, keep an eye on Athlete365 for the latest news before, during and after the Games, including some inspiring stories from your fellow athletes who are making their mark on Olympic history in Italy. Lastly, and
