Following absolutely thrilling Paris 2024 Olympics hockey tournaments, the sixth season of the FIH Hockey Pro League promises to be more exciting than ever before.
As was the case for the last season, the winners of the “League of the Best”, women and men, will get direct qualification for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup Netherlands-Belgium.
Also, after a couple of seasons where only some teams hosted matches, all participating teams* will host matches this time, therefore promoting one of the original principles of the creation of Pro League – ie, connecting teams and athletes with their own fans by playing home matches.
Furthermore, the match schedule has been defined in such a way that each team will play half of their matches in December/February and the other half in June. This will make the League far easier to follow, especially for all hockey fans around the world.
In terms of the participating teams, the winners of the Women’s FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2024, Spain, will re-join Pro League, after a first spell in the 2021-22 season, where the RedSticks finished 5th. They’re replacing the USA, who’ve been relegated.
On the men’s side, New Zealand, despite winning the last edition of the Nations Cup, have decided not to join this time. France, runners-up of that same Nations Cup, have made the same decision. Consequently, Ireland, finishing on the last spot of their inaugural FIH Hockey Pro League last season will not be relegated and will play their second consecutive Pro League season.
A “re-run” of the Paris 2024 men’s final between the Netherlands and Germany and of the Paris 2024 women’s semi-final between China and Belgium, in Amsterdam and Hangzhou respectively, will open the season in style!
FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25 stages:
· Hangzhou, China (30 November – 5 December 2024)
· Amsterdam, Netherlands (30 November – 9 December 2024)
· Santiago del Estero, Argentina (10-15 December 2024)
· Sydney, Australia (4-9 February 2025)
. Argentina (19-24 February 2025) – venue tbc
. Bhubaneswar (tbc), India (15-25 February 2025)
. Valencia, Spain (7-8 June 2025)
. Amsterdam, Netherlands (7-15 June 2025)
. London, Great Britain (14-22 June 2025)
. Antwerp, Belgium (14-29 June 2025)
. Berlin, Germany (21-29 June 2025)
*except Ireland
The full match schedule is available here.
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