Mar 30, 2026

South African Hockey can confirm the official fixtures for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup, with both the SA Men and Women set to face world class opposition as they prepare for their respective campaigns in Europe.

The SA Men will be based in Wavre, Belgium, where they have been drawn in Pool C, widely regarded as one of the toughest pools in the tournament.

South Africa open their campaign against Spain, currently ranked 7th in the world and coached by Max Caldas. The two sides last met at the Olympic Games, where Spain secured a 3-0 victory. South Africa’s last win over Spain came in 2016 during the Summer Series.

Their second pool match sees them take on Ireland, ranked 9th, in what promises to be a compelling encounter. The teams will already be familiar with each other, having met at the FIH Nations Cup in Cape Town, while their last World Cup cycle meeting saw South Africa edge a thrilling 4-3 victory in the 2022 Nations Cup final.

South Africa complete their group stage against world number 3 Australia, a formidable opponent whom the South Africans have yet to overcome in a major tournament.

At the conclusion of the pool phase, the top two teams in each group will progress to the Top 8 second group stage, while the remaining teams will contest the 9 to 16 playoff positions. South Africa’s best ever finish at the FIH Hockey World Cup remains 10th place.

Meanwhile, the SA Women will make their eighth consecutive appearance at the World Cup, continuing a proud legacy on the global stage. Their best finish remains a 7th place achievement in 1998.

The women’s side has been drawn in Pool D in Amstelveen in the Netherlands, where they too face a challenging group.

South Africa, currently ranked 20th, will begin their campaign against England, ranked 6th in the world. The South Africans will take confidence from their historic victory over England at the 2014 World Cup.

They will then face India, ranked 9th, with memories of the 2014 Commonwealth Games where South Africa secured a memorable 3-2 win serving as added motivation.

South Africa conclude their pool stage against Olympic silver medallists China, currently ranked 4th in the world. The sides meet for the first time in nine years, with South Africa having won their last encounter 4-2 in Cape Town.

With both teams facing elite opposition from the outset, the stage is set for South Africa to test themselves against the very best as they look to make their mark at the FIH Hockey World Cup.

Source: sahockey.co.za