The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has announced a significant structural expansion of its tiered league system, increasing the number of participating teams in both the FIH Hockey Nations Cup and the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2 from eight to ten from the next edition onwards. The announcement, made on 10 June from Lausanne, Switzerland, means that eight additional teams will compete across the two events each year, broadening global access to high-level international hockey.

What the Expansion Covers

The Nations Cup and Nations Cup 2 occupy the second and third rungs of the FIH's competitive pyramid, sitting below the flagship FIH Hockey Pro League. The winner of the Nations Cup earns direct qualification to the Pro League in the following season — making the expanded field both more competitive and more consequential for aspiring nations.

Notably, the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2, which was introduced only last year, will transition from an occasional event to an annual fixture from 2027 onwards. According to the FIH, this change is designed to provide more consistent competitive exposure for second- and third-tier nations while simplifying the overall qualification structure by aligning Nations Cup 2 with the Nations Cup and the Pro League calendar.

What FIH President Tayyab Ikram Said

FIH President Tayyab Ikram described the decisions as central to the federation's broader agenda. 'These decisions, taken upon my initiative, are in continuation with our Empowerment and Engagement strategy. They are crucial in fostering equal opportunities for athletes and nations to participate, develop, and grow,' he said in an official release.

Ikram added: 'I am particularly pleased for all the second- and third-tier teams that previously lacked sufficient opportunities to test themselves in high-level tournaments before the introduction of both events.' He also noted that the inaugural editions of Nations Cup 2 last year were 'a tremendous success' and that participating teams had strongly demanded an annual format.

Immediate Impact: No Relegation This Year

A direct consequence of the team expansion is that no team will be relegated from the current edition of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup. The Men's tournament is already under way in Cape Town, South Africa, while the Women's edition is scheduled to begin on 15 June in Auckland, New Zealand. The Nations Cup is being held for the fourth time this year and has, according to the FIH, established itself as a major fixture on hockey's global calendar.

Why It Matters for Global Hockey

The restructuring reflects a growing push within international sports federations to widen competitive access beyond elite tiers. For nations outside the traditional hockey powerhouses — particularly from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas — a guaranteed annual Nations Cup 2 slot represents a meaningful step up in competitive continuity. The revised qualification system, aligned across all three tiers, is also expected to reduce ambiguity around promotion and relegation pathways. This comes amid broader efforts by the FIH to grow the sport's footprint ahead of future Olympic cycles.