15 Aug, 2025 In exactly one year from now, on 15 August 2026, the hockey world will come together to celebrate the start of the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026. The countdown has officially begun, and anticipation is building for international hockey’s premier competition that promises to be as thrilling as it is historic. Two Nations, One Global Spectacle From 15 August 2026, the 16 best men’s and women’s teams on the planet will battle for glory across world-class venues in Wavre, Belgium and Amstelveen, Netherlands. Known for their rich hockey heritage, passionate fan bases, and vibrant sporting culture, both nations are ready to deliver an unforgettable festival of hockey. This edition will mark only the second time in history that the men’s and women’s competitions are staged together, bringing the entire global hockey family into one shared moment of excitement. A Look Back The Men’s Hockey World Cup made its debut in 1971 in Barcelona, Spain, with Pakistan crowned the inaugural champions. Over the decades, the tournament has grown into one of the sport’s most prestigious events, producing legendary rivalries and iconic performances. Pakistan are the most successful team in the men’s World Cup history, winning the title four times between 1971 and 1994. Following closely behind with three titles each, are Australia, Netherlands and Germany – the reigning men’s champions from the 2023 event in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, India. The Women’s Hockey World Cup began in 1974 in Mandelieu, France, where the Netherlands claimed the first title. Since then, the event has showcased the evolution and global rise of women’s hockey, with the Dutch women emerging as the most successful team in history, winning the competition 9 times, including the previous edition played in Spain and Netherlands in 2022. The tournament has been a platform for unforgettable moments and witnessed era defining performances from some of the best players in the world like Luciana Aymar, Alyson Annan, Natascha Keller, Rani Rampal, Eva de Goede and many others. 2026: A New Chapter Belgium and the Netherlands have been at the forefront of world hockey over the past few decades, with their on-pitch performances and the depth of their hockey development. From packed stadiums in Wavre and Amstelveen to vibrant fan zones and world-leading broadcast coverage, every detail is being prepared to deliver a World Cup experience like no other. With one year to go, six men’s and six women’s teams have already qualified for the World Cup, while the others prepare for their continental championships and the upcoming World Cup qualifiers to secure their spot in international hockey’s biggest celebration! In the men’s competition, Belgium and Netherlands, on account of being hosts of the event, gained direct qualification. Australia and Spain qualified through the previous two editions of the FIH Hockey Pro League. Argentina secured qualification recently through their gold medal finish at the Pan American Cup 2025, while Germany have already qualified from the ongoing EuroHockey Championship. Continental championships in Asia, Africa and Oceania over the coming months will determine four more direct qualifiers for the event, with the remaining seven teams qualifying through the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in 2026. In the women’s competition, Belgium and Netherlands, on account of being hosts of the event, gained direct qualification. Germany and Argentina qualified through the previous two editions of the FIH Hockey Pro League. USA secured their qualification recently at the Pan American Cup 2025, while Spain have already qualified from the ongoing EuroHockey Championship. Continental championships in Asia, Africa and Oceania over the coming months will determine four more direct qualifiers for the event, with the remaining seven teams qualifying through the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in 2026. Remarking on the occasion of one year to go till the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026, FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “The FIH Hockey World Cup is our flagship event. Where legends are made. Where teams give it all for a unique moment of glory. Where athletes celebrate a moment of performance and togetherness. The fact that both women and men will play the 2026 World Cup at the same time and in the same venues makes it even more special! Our co-hosts, Belgium and the Netherlands, are already working very hard to make this event the best World Cup ever! So, my message to all hockey fans around the world is: pencil this event in bold letters in your agenda. You can expect an unforgettable event!” Dutch Hockey Association CEO Erik Gerritsen said: “Now that the first teams have qualified, the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is getting closer. Preparations are in full swing, and we’re really looking forward to it!” Hockey Belgium CEO Serge Pilet said: “At the moment we’re still battling it out at the Euros in Mönchengladbach, but in just one year we’ll be back on home soil—only 180 km away! Our brand-new stadium in Wavre will set the stage for the world’s top hockey teams to shine. Get ready for an unforgettable showdown!” Source: FIH.hockey
03 Aug, 2025 The men’s Pan American Cup 2025 came to an end today with Argentina defeating USA in the men’s final to win the gold medal and secure qualification to the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026! With one direct qualification spot available to the Americas at the upcoming World Cup, the winner of the final was assured qualification to the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026 and with Argentina securing a 10-0 win over USA in the final, they become the fifth team to book their place in hockey’s premier world event next year. Argentina, placed in Pool A went unbeaten through the tournament, winning all three of their pool stage matches, followed by wins in the semi-final and the final. They started off their campaign in perfect fashion winning 13-0 against Brazil and followed that up with a clinical 3-0 win over USA who they would face in the final once again. A 12-0 win in the final pool match against hosts Uruguay secured the top spot in Pool A for Argentina sending them through to the semi-final. Argentina were paired up against Canada in the semi-final, who finished second in Pool B behind Chile. Argentina once again showed their continental supremacy dispatching Canada in a 9-1 win, despite Canada scoring the first goal of the game. Tomas Domene with 4 goals and Nicolas della Torre with 3 goals starred in the semi-final, taking Argentina one step closer to world cup qualification. The Leones were relentless on attack in the final and put the American defence to sword, winning the contest with a massive 10-0 scoreline. Tomas Domene, Tadeo Marucci and Bautista Capurro scored a brace each, with Nicolas della Torre, Lucas Toscani, Lucas Martinez and Lucio Mendez also getting on the scoresheet. The win gives Argentina their fourth consecutive, and fifth overall title in the Pan American Cup, and punches their ticket to the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026. Tournament top scorer Tomas Domene, who also made his 100th appearance for Argentina, said: “I am very happy, beyond anything else, to play and represent Argentina 100 times. I think that I am very emotional today, with the team having qualified for the World Cup, which was our objective from the start of the tournament. I think we had a great tournament, from start to finish, we showed who we are. We tried to give our best in every match, and I think that showed, and this result reflects that.” Argentina have become the fifth team to secure qualification to the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026. Belgium and Netherlands, on account of being hosts of the event, secured direct qualification. At the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24, it was Australia who qualified for the World Cup as champions of the season. Spain were the fourth team to secure their spot, finishing second behind already qualified Netherlands in the 2024/25 season of the Pro League. Continental championships in Asia, Africa, Europe and Oceania over the coming months will determine four more direct qualifiers for the event, with the remaining seven teams qualifying through the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in 2026. Source: FIH.hockey
18 Jul, 2025 Starting from 24 July, Montevideo, Uruguay will play host to the Men’s and Women’s Pan American Cups 2025 – the Americas’ premier hockey tournament running 24 July – 3 August – with the champions punching their tickets to the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026. Tournament Format & Pools Both men’s and women’s tournaments will feature 8 teams, split into Pool A & B, with the top two from each pool advancing to semi-finals while the bottom two teams will play for classifications and world ranking points. Women’s Pools: Pool A: Argentina, Canada, Paraguay, Uruguay Pool B: Chile, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, USA Men’s Pools: Pool A: Argentina, Brazil, United States, Uruguay Pool B: Canada, Chile, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago Match Schedule Both tournaments will run in parallel from 24 July to 3 August. The men’s competition will be the first one to get underway on 24 July with Canada taking on Mexico in the opening contest from the Pool B. The second Pool B match between Chile and Trinidad & Tobago will also be played later in the day. Pool A matches begin the following day with Argentina taking on Brazil in the first match, followed by United States vs hosts Uruguay later in the day. In the women’s competition Pool A action will begin on 24 July with Canada taking on Paraguay in the opener, followed by Argentina vs Uruguay as the final match of the day. Pool B matches begin the following day with Chile vs Trinidad & Tobago starting us off, followed by United States taking on Mexico. The pool stages will be played from 24 to 29 July followed by classification and medal matches to be played from 31 July to 3 August. The winner of each competition will earn a coveted spot at the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026. If Argentina women, who have qualified via the Pro League, win the women’s competition, the silver medalists will secure a spot at the World Cup instead. The Pan American Cup 2025 are more than continental battles – they are gateways to the global stage in 2026. With top-tier opponents, continental rivalries, and national pride at stake, Montevideo’s hockey showcase promises high drama and exceptional skill. Where to Watch All the matches from the Pan American Cup 2025 will be available to stream on the Watch.Hockey app worldwide*. Click here to get your pass today! *Except in Argentina due to broadcasting agreements in place. Source: FIH.hockey
18 Jul, 2025 The International Hockey Federation (FIH) and its partner Endeavor Streaming are delighted to announce that the recent launch of the reimagined Watch.Hockey service was truly successful. The strong overachievement in subscription numbers during June is a clear indicator of the platform’s growing success and global acceptance. Thanks to the Watch.Hockey platform, fans from around the world* were able to enjoy seamless access to live and on-demand coverage of all FIH events held in June, delivering an exceptional viewing experience across devices. They could also benefit from powerful new features such as a playback control enabling them to move back in time within the video, or the possibility to cast videos from their mobile device to Chromecast and Airplay compatible TV. Numerous positive comments were received from every corner of the global hockey community. Team USA player Aki Kaeppeler said: “I really like that Watch.Hockey is back. Makes it super easy to follow everything that is going on and watch all the games and even highlights. Plus, rewatch if I’ve missed something or want to just see something I couldn’t watch because of the time difference or my own trainings etc. It’s also awesome that everything international is on one website so I don’t need to figure out who is streaming what or where to watch it. Plus, the deal at the beginning of the Pro League was nice and affordable.” “The Watch.Hockey app has given us the opportunity to watch hockey from around the world, allowing fans to support their teams and families who cannot travel. It has made the game more accessible and engaging by offering live games and replays. What I love most is the ability to go back and rewatch games, as well as how affordable the app is. I also love staying connected with all the international competitions, such as the Pro League and other tournaments happening globally”, South African player Edith Molikoe. “Watch.hockey this season looked fantastic and worked really well. It was finally fantastic to be able to open the app, click on a live game and watch. Phenomenal improvement on previous years. Really well done FIH!!”, said FIH Coach of the Year Alyson Annan about the new Watch.Hockey. “I watched the games on the new Watch.Hockey platform and was very satisfied with the high video quality and smooth access”, said Yoki Sakamoto, Director General of the Japanese Hockey Association. “The app is very fluid and well-organized. The content is rich, and the fact that you don’t have to use the scores for replays is great!”, emailed a hockey fan from Europe. This positive outcome enabled it to reach much higher audiences than in the past, therefore contributing significantly to one of the main objectives of Watch.Hockey, namely, to promote hockey worldwide. Watch.Hockey is available on web, iOS (App Store), Android (Play Store), Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Firestick. Beyond live and on demand matches, it also offers live stats, extended match highlights and an extended library of videos on demand. The 2025-26 Season Pass is still available at an Early Bird offer**. In addition to the Season Pass, it will be possible for hockey fans to subscribe to other events shortly, such as the upcoming Pan American Cup*** (24 July – 3 August) and the Asian Cup (Men: 29 August – 7 September / Women: 5-14 September). These two really exciting tournaments are also qualifiers for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup! * except in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka due to broadcasting agreements in place **Early Bird offer valid for a limited period of time *** except in Argentina due to broadcasting agreements in place
