Fixtures in host countries Belgium and the Netherlands announced
Brussels, Belgium: The world’s best hockey nations, 16 in the men’s competition and the same number in the women’s, will compete for the world title in Belgium and the Netherlands during the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup in August next year. The exact match times for both host countries in the group stages were revealed today, marking the start of the first round of ticket sales. The Red Lions and Red Panthers will play their group matches in Wavre, in the brand-new Belfius Hockey Arena. The iconic Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam will be the Dutch home base.
The 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup will take place from 15 to 30 August 2026 and will be a unique collaboration between hockey powerhouses Belgium and the Netherlands – silver medallists at the last men’s World Cup and reigning women’s World Champions respectively – together with the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Half of the matches will be played in Wavre, Belgium, and the other half in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It is only the third time in history that both the men’s and women’s World Cups will take place simultaneously and in the same stadiums; the previous times were in Utrecht (1998) and The Hague (2014), also on Dutch soil.
Belgium is hosting the FIH Hockey World Cup for the first time. What’s more, the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup will be the first ever world championship for a team sport in French-speaking Belgium. Of course, Belgium is no stranger to organising major international hockey tournaments. With the European Championships in Boom (2013) and Antwerp (2019), the EuroHockey Junior Championship in Ghent (2021) and six seasons of the FIH Hockey Pro League, Belgium has proven to be a reliable and innovative host.
16 of the 32 participating nations already known
16 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams will take part in the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup. In addition to Belgium and the Netherlands, Argentina, China, Germany, New Zealand, Spain and the USA have already secured their place in the women’s tournament. In addition to the host countries, Argentina, Australia, Germany, India, New Zealand and Spain have also already secured their ticket for the men’s tournament. In October, after the African Continental Championships, we will also know the African representatives, one per gender. The remaining participating teams will come from the Qualifiers that will be played in early 2026.
New Competition Format
The final tournament will be played according to a new competition format. The countries will be divided into four groups of four. After the first group stage, the top two from each group will advance to a second group stage: the winners and runners-up from groups A and D will form the new group E. The same goes for groups B and C, which will form the new group F. Similar to the numbers one and two, the numbers three and four will also form new groups after the first group stage: groups G and H.
In this second group stage, each country plays two more matches, against the two ‘new’ countries in the group. The result achieved against the country already played in the first group stage also counts towards the final ranking in the new group. The best two teams from the new groups E and F advance to the semi-finals. The third and fourth-placed teams will play placement matches for rankings 5 to 8. The countries from groups G and H will compete for places 9 to 16.
Both in Wavre and Amsterdam, one semi-final for the men and one for the women will be played. This will naturally be followed by the finals: the women’s final in Amsterdam on Saturday 29 August, and the men’s final in Wavre on Sunday 30 August.
‘Together for Glory’
The event’s slogan – ‘Together for Glory’ – was also announced today. In line with the specific nature of this edition of the FIH Hockey World Cup, the idea of togetherness refers to the fact that the event includes both women’s and men’s tournaments, and that they will take place simultaneously and in the same venues. This also emphasizes the paramount principle of FIH as well as the Belgian and Dutch Hockey Associations of integrating and promoting gender equality in all their events and activities.
Also, as the ultimate prize within the FIH events portfolio, the FIH Hockey World Cup, where so many legends were made, is intrinsically associated to moments of glory. Lifting the winners’ trophy is a dream come true for any athlete.
Draw in March 2026
In March 2026, after the final qualifying matches, all participating countries will be known and the draw will take place. Then all teams will know their opponents and which city will be their base for the first ten days of the tournament.
Promoting diversity and inclusion
Hockey’s world governing has decided to organise, alongside the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, its first ever FIH ParaHockey World Cup for athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID), marking a historic milestone for diversity and inclusion. The finals will be played in the same arenas, in Wavre and Amsterdam.
Belfius Hockey Arena & Wagener Stadium
The Red Lions and Red Panthers will play their group matches of the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup in the brand-new national hockey stadium in Wavre, which will officially be called the Belfius Hockey Arena from today. It is a modern, permanent hockey stadium with 4,000 permanent seats. For the World Cup, this will be expanded to 10,000 seats on a one-off basis. Construction of the stadium will be completed by the end of 2025. Belfius, global partner of the FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium, will lend its name to this new Belgian hockey hotspot for the next five years.
The Dutch teams will play all their group matches at the iconic Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam, which has been temporarily extended to welcome over 10,000 visitors especially for this World Cup. During the group stage, four matches will be played every day in both the Wagener Stadium and the Belfius Hockey Arena, but that’s not all. There will be a real festival atmosphere surrounding the stadiums: a fan zone, performances by top artists, good food and drink, fun shops and all kinds of hockey activities. In the Netherlands, you will also be able to enjoy spectacular Hockey5s matches. In short, a total experience for both true hockey fans and anyone who loves sport.
When will Belgium and the Netherlands play?
Matches Belgium, in Wavre:
First group stage:
- Saturday 15 August 2026 – 9 p.m. (M)
- Sunday 16 August 2026 – 5:30 p.m. (W)
- Monday 17 August 2026 – 8:30 p.m. (M)
- Tuesday 18 August 2026 – 8:30 p.m. (W)
- Wednesday 19 August 2026 – 8:30 p.m. (M)
- Thursday 20 August 2026 – 8:30 p.m. (W)
Second group stage:
- Friday 21 August 2026 – 8:30 p.m. (M)
- Saturday 22 August 2026 – 5:30 p.m. (W)
- Sunday 23 August 2026 – 5:30 p.m. (M)
- Monday 24 August 2026 – 8:30 p.m. (W)
Matches the Netherlands, in Amsterdam:
First group stage:
- Saturday 15 August 2026 – 4 p.m. (W)
- Sunday 16 August 2026 – 4 p.m. (M)
- Monday 17 August 2026 – 6 p.m. (W)
- Tuesday 18 August 2026 – 6 p.m. (M)
- Wednesday 19 August 2026 – 6 p.m. (W)
- Thursday 20 August 2026 – 6 p.m. (M)
Second group stage:
- Friday 21 August 2026 – 6 p.m. (W)
- Saturday 22 August 2026 – 4 p.m. (M)
- Sunday 23 August 2026 – 4 p.m. (W)
- Monday 24 August 2026 – 6 p.m. (M)
Fans from Belgium, the Netherlands or anywhere else in the world can already purchase tickets: day tickets valid for all matches at either location on that day. Tickets for the semi-finals and finals are also already available for purchase. Tickets can be bought on www.worldcup.hockey.
[Quotes]
FIH President Tayyab Ikram: “The FIH Hockey World Cup is the pinnacle of our events, where so many legends were made. Showcasing the best athletes of world hockey, the upcoming edition will be a true celebration of sport excellence, thanks to our incredible athletes, and inclusion, with women’s and men’s playing the prestigious tournament at the same time and in the same venues, and our first ever FIH ParaHockey World Cup being launched on that occasion! Together with our friends from Belgium and the Netherlands, two hockey powerhouses on the global hockey map, we look forward to an amazing World Cup that will promote the values of our sport, including fair-play, respect and togetherness. We will put together the most adequate conditions for athletes to showcase their amazing talent! And we will thrive to convey hockey’s global showpiece to all fans around the world, thanks to our broadcast partners and digital platforms. On behalf of FIH, I extend our sincerest appreciation to our hosts for their commitment and efforts and call upon all fans to securing their attendance at the World Cup already now!”
Serge Pilet, CEO of the Royal Belgian Hockey Association: “The wait is over. I’m thrilled we can now officially kick off the final countdown towards the Hockey World Cup! With the official website and the ticketing platform launching today for the public, and the last construction phase of our brand new Belfius Hockey Arena well advanced, we feel we are ready to go full force now. I’m convinced we will deliver a spectacular and unforgettable double-gender Hockey World Cup for the fans packed in the stands, as well as for those watching it on TV!”
Erik Gerritsen, CEO of Royal Dutch Hockey Federation: “Today marks an important milestone in the organisation of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026: ticket sales have officially started. This moment is the result of years of dedicated work by the FIH, Golazo, Hockey Belgium and the KNHB. What began with drafting a bid in 2022 has evolved into a professional and thoroughly planned event concept. We now have a solid foundation in place — from match schedules and venue layouts to side events and ticketing strategies. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. And now the real work begins: together, we’ll build a tournament that will leave a lasting impression around the world. I’m very much looking forward to it and I’m pleased with the collaboration with Belgium and the FIH.”
Adrien Dolimont, Wallonia’s Minister-President: “To see the Hockey World Cup being played here in Wallonia is proof that nothing is impossible when a vision is carried collectively. We built this stadium despite the challenges, and today it has become the symbol of a Wallonia capable of hosting world-class events, showcasing its talents, and positioning itself as a true hub of sporting excellence.”
Jacqueline Galant, Minister of Sports and Sports Infrastructure in Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation: “Together, Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation have invested more than six million euros in this World Cup, both for the Wavre stadium and for the organization of the event. I am proud that we were able to join forces to bring this ambitious project to life. If this World Cup sparks new vocations and inspires a generation of young people to take up hockey, then we will have fully achieved our goal.”
Olivier Onclin, Vice Charmain Management Board of Belfius: “It is a great honour to play a key role as a Global Partner in the organisation and promotion of this leading international sporting event. This reinforces our unconditional support for the Red Panthers and Red Lions, who we have been proudly supporting for many years. They inspire an entire generation and embody values that we fully share: team spirit, resilience, ambition and pushing boundaries. We are very much looking forward to cheering them on together at the Belfius Hockey Arena, where a new, glorious chapter in Belgian hockey history will undoubtedly be written.”
For all information about the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, please visit www.worldcup.hockey
For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website.
#HWC2026
Source: FIH.hockey
