For the first time, two countries will share the FIH Hockey World Cup. Belgium and the Netherlands co-host the 2026 tournament, and the men’s event runs from August 14 to August 30, according to Outlook India. The women’s World Cup, played in the same two countries, is scheduled from August 15 to 30, the Hans India reports.
Joint hosting is a first for the men’s tournament, and it comes with a compact footprint. Outlook India lists just two venues for the men’s event: Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, in the Netherlands, and Stade Justin Peeters, also called the Belfius Hockey Arena, in Wavre, Belgium. Amstelveen also stages all of the women’s pool matches that involve India.
Sixteen teams, four pools
The men’s field of 16 is split into four pools of four. Each team plays three group matches before the second stage and knockouts. Pool A has the Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand and Japan. Pool B brings together Belgium, Germany, France and Malaysia. Australia, Spain, Ireland and South Africa sit in Pool C, and India, England, Pakistan and Wales fill Pool D.
Germany arrive as defending champions, having won the title in Bhubaneswar in 2023. The Netherlands are Olympic champions. Belgium, the host nation with the Red Lions on home turf, are keen to reclaim a World Cup crown, and Australia and England are also counted among the contenders.
India’s long wait
India have not lifted the trophy since 1975. That is a 51-year gap, and captain Harmanpreet Singh, whose drag-flicking is central to the attack, leads another attempt. The draw is demanding. India open against Wales on August 15, meet England on August 17 and face Pakistan on August 19.
The women’s side, captained by Salima Tete, is in Pool D with China, England and South Africa. They open against China on August 16, then play South Africa on August 18 and England on August 20. India missed direct qualification when they lost the Women’s Asia Cup 2025 final to host China, then went unbeaten through the qualifiers in Hyderabad in March 2026 under chief coach Sjoerd Marijne. England beat them in the final there, but the place was already secured. Weeks before the World Cup, they won the FIH Nations Cup in New Zealand, again without losing, and earned promotion back to the FIH Pro League. Forward Navneet Kaur was named Player of the Tournament at the qualifiers.
Indian viewers can follow the men’s matches on Star Sports, with streaming on JioHotstar. Elsewhere, the official Watch.Hockey platform carries the games where rights allow. The final of the men’s World Cup is set for August 30.
Sources
- FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026 Preview: Full Schedule, Teams, India's Fixtures And Live Streaming | Outlook India
- Indian women’s hockey team’s road to FIH World Cup 2026
