The 2026 Hockey World Cup — running simultaneously for men and women from 15 August to 30 August across Belgium and the Netherlands — introduces a significantly restructured format that eliminates the traditional quarterfinal round in favour of a second group stage. A total of 16 teams each in the men's and women's draws will compete under the revised system, marking one of the most substantial format changes in the tournament's recent history.

The Opening Pool Stage

The tournament begins conventionally, with 16 teams divided into four pools of four. In the men's competition, Pool A features the Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, and Japan; Pool B comprises Belgium, France, Germany, and Malaysia; Pool C includes Australia, Spain, Ireland, and South Africa; and Pool D groups England, India, Pakistan, and Wales.

In the women's tournament, Pool A consists of the Netherlands, Australia, Chile, and Japan; Pool B has Argentina, Germany, USA, and Scotland; Pool C includes Belgium, Spain, New Zealand, and Ireland; while Pool D features China, England, India, and South Africa.

What Replaces the Quarterfinals

Unlike previous editions, the top two teams from each pool do not advance to quarterfinals. Instead, they enter a second group stage. The third- and fourth-placed teams from the opening pools are placed into Pool G and Pool H, where they compete solely for classification — meaning their World Cup medal ambitions effectively end at the first stage.

The second-round pools are structured as follows: Pool E draws the top two finishers from Pool A and Pool D, while Pool F takes the top two from Pool B and Pool C. Crucially, teams carry their first-stage points forward into the second group phase — a detail that adds strategic weight to every opening match.

How the Second Group Stage Works

In the second round, each team plays only two matches rather than three. Critically, teams do not replay opponents they were grouped with in the first stage — so, for instance, if both India and England advance from Pool D, they will not face each other again in Pool E; instead, they will each play the two qualifiers from Pool A, potentially the Netherlands and Argentina.

The top two sides from Pool E and Pool F at the end of this stage advance to the semifinals. The points carried over from the first stage mean early results can prove decisive in determining semifinal spots.

Semifinals, Final, and Bronze Medal Match

The semifinal draw is cross-pool: the Pool E winners face the Pool F runners-up, and the Pool E runners-up take on the Pool F winners. Semifinal winners advance to the gold medal match, while the two losing sides contest the bronze medal game. The entire tournament concludes by 30 August.

With points carrying over and no quarterfinal safety net, the new format raises the stakes of the opening pool phase considerably — a single poor result could prove fatal to a team's medal hopes before the second stage even begins.