FIH Unveils Exciting Plans Ahead of Hockey World Cup in 500 Days
Click to start listening
Synopsis
In 500 days, the FIH Hockey World Cup will commence in Belgium and the Netherlands, featuring 16 men's and women's teams. The event runs from August 15 to 30, 2026, marking a historic joint hosting of both tournaments.
Key Takeaways
- The FIH Hockey World Cup starts in 500 days.
- Belgium and the Netherlands will co-host the event.
- 16 teams will participate, including Germany and Australia.
- World Cup Qualifiers will determine remaining teams.
- New venues are being developed in both host countries.
Lausanne (Switzerland), April 2 (NationPress) In just 500 days, the 16 men's and women's teams from around the globe will converge in Belgium and the Netherlands for the FIH Hockey World Cup, scheduled to occur from August 15 to 30, 2026.
The inaugural match of the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup will kick off exactly 500 days from today, marking the beginning of the FIH’s premier global hockey event. This tournament will be historic as it marks the first occasion where the Women’s and Men’s World Cups will be held together and co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
Alongside the host nations, Germany (women) and Australia (men) have secured their World Cup spots through the FIH Hockey Pro League last season. The next two teams (one women's and one men's team) will also qualify via the Pro League.
According to a release from the International Hockey Federation (FIH), “The five Continental Championships, taking place between July and September 2026, will allow for 5 additional teams per gender to qualify.”
“The remaining seven teams – out of a total of 16 per gender - will be determined through the World Cup Qualifiers, scheduled for next year from February 28 to March 8, 2026,” the FIH statement added.
The draw for the four groups per gender for the World Cup's group stage will occur shortly after these Qualifiers.
FIH President Tayyab Ikram expressed: “The FIH Hockey World Cup is our most prestigious event. It’s where legends are created. It offers a fantastic opportunity for our elite athletes to display their incredible talents, much to the joy of hockey enthusiasts worldwide. We eagerly await a thrilling edition in Belgium and the Netherlands, which are two of the biggest hockey powerhouses, showcasing the world’s most gifted female and male hockey players.”
“On this momentous day, the World Cup feels more tangible than ever. With more teams preparing to qualify soon, it is truly coming together, and I invite all hockey fans to mark their calendars and plan a visit to Belgium and the Netherlands in 500 days,” he continued.
Preparations are ramping up within the two host nations, particularly regarding the venues for the event. In the Netherlands, the renowned Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, near Amsterdam, will temporarily expand its capacity to 10,000 seats. Meanwhile, in Belgium, a significant legacy of the World Cup will be the construction of a completely renovated stadium dedicated solely to hockey, located in Wavre, southeast of Brussels, as communicated by the FIH.
Erik Gerritsen, CEO of the Dutch Hockey Association, stated: “The plans to make this World Cup extraordinary are coming together more each day! Our collaboration is strengthening, and it’s shaping up to be an international hockey celebration in both the Netherlands and Belgium. We’re building upon the successes of previous tournaments in 1998, 2014, and 2022, while also exploring exciting new opportunities for this event. We can’t wait to see what unfolds!”
His Belgian counterpart, CEO Serge Pilet, remarked: “I am confident that our partnership with the Dutch federation in organizing this event will lead to a spectacular and unforgettable double-gender Hockey World Cup. For Belgium, this event will be hosted in our new hockey stadium in Wavre, with completion expected by the end of this year. This is thrilling news for hockey in Belgium.”
