Channel 4 to Deliver Landmark Free-to-Air Coverage of Every Home Nations FIH Hockey World Cup Match 

Every England, Scotland and Wales match at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 will stream live and free on Channel 4 Sport YouTube, giving supporters across Great Britain the opportunity to follow every Home Nations campaign without a subscription. 

Alongside coverage on Channel 4 Sport YouTube, Wales supporters will also be able to watch every Wales match live in Welsh on S4C, while Scotland supporters can follow every Scotland match live in Scottish Gaelic on BBC ALBA. 

Supporters wanting to experience every moment of the World Cup will also be able to watch all other matches from the tournament on the International Hockey Federation’s official streaming platform, FIH Watch.Hockey, providing complete coverage of all teams, every pool match and the knockout stages through a subscription.  

The announcement builds on a shared commitment to increasing the visibility and accessibility of international hockey across Great Britain. Through England Hockey’s partnership with Channel 4, the FIH Hockey Pro League, EuroHockey Championships 2025 and now the FIH Hockey World Cup have all been made available free-to-air, helping the sport reach both existing fans and new audiences. 

The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 takes place from 15-30 August 2026 across two host nations, Belgium and the Netherlands, with matches played at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre and the iconic Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam. The tournament will see the world’s best men’s and women’s teams compete for the sport’s biggest prize. 

England and Wales men find themselves in the World Cup’s group of rivalries. Alongside India and Pakistan, the pool brings together four nations with rich hockey histories, culminating in a Home Nations showdown between England and Wales on 19 August. 

Scotland’s women face a formidable challenge in Pool C, taking on Germany, the USA and Argentina as they look to test themselves against some of the world’s strongest hockey nations and compete for a place in the knockout stages.  

England’s women will take on South Africa, China and India as they look to secure a place in the knockout stages. 

England Hockey CEO Rich Beer said“Increasing the visibility of hockey remains one of our biggest strategic priorities. Over the past two years we have worked hard to ensure that our biggest international events are available free-to-air, allowing both our hockey community and new audiences to experience the excitement of our sport.  

“We’re incredibly proud to continue that commitment by making every England World Cup match freely available, while also ensuring supporters across Great Britain can follow Scotland and Wales throughout the tournament. 

“We’re equally proud that Channel 4 continues to believe in hockey and the potential of our sport. Every new viewer helps us build the case for even more free-to-air coverage in the future, and we hope the hockey community gets behind our teams and helps us make this World Cup our biggest audience yet.”  

Scottish Hockey CEO Derek Keir said “Raising the profile of hockey in Scotland is a key part of inspiring the next generation of players, so we are delighted to have worked collaboratively with the home nations to bring hockey to a wider audience. It’s fantastic that supporters across Scotland will be able to follow our women’s team on the biggest stage through iPlayer, live on BBC Alba, and Channel 4 YouTube – free of charge throughout the World Cup. Free-to-air coverage gives our athletes the platform they deserve and makes it easier than ever for fans to get behind the team.” 

Hoci Cymru CEO Paul Whapham said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for hockey in Wales. Being able to watch every Wales match free on Channel 4 Sport, and through the medium of Welsh on S4C, means more people than ever can follow and support our teams. It gives supporters the opportunity to enjoy the action in their own language, helping to inspire current players, attract new fans and bring the whole hockey community together throughout the tournament.  

“We are incredibly grateful to both Channel 4 Sport and S4C for their commitment to showcasing hockey on such a prestigious international stage. Their support will not only help raise the profile of our national teams but also inspire the next generation of players and grow the sport across Wales.” 

 

How to Watch 

• England, Scotland and Wales matches: Live and free on Channel 4 Sport YouTube  
• Wales matches (Welsh commentary): Live on S4C  
• Scotland matches (Scottish Gaelic commentary): Live on BBC ALBA  
• All other World Cup matches: FIH Watch.Hockey 

 

FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 – Eng / Scot / Wal fixtures  

Pool Matches 

Pool Matches
Date	Match	Time (BST)	Venue
15 Aug 2026	Scotland Women v Germany	10.30	Belfius Arena, Wavre
15 Aug 2026	Wales Men v India	12:00	Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen
15 Aug 2026	England Men vs Pakistan	18:00	Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen
16 Aug 2026	England Women vs South Africa	9:00	Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen
17 Aug 2026	Scotland Women v USA	10:00	Belfius Arena, Wavre
17 Aug 2026	Wales Men v Pakistan	11:30	Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen
17 Aug 2026	India vs England Men	14:00	Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen
18 Aug 2026	England Women vs China	11:30	Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen
19 Aug 2026	Argentina v Scotland Women	10:00	Belfius Arena, Wavre
19 Aug 2026	England Men vs Wales	11:30	Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen
20 Aug 2026	India vs England Women	14:00	Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen

 

Knockout Phase / Crossovers 

Date	Round	Venue
21–24 Aug 2026	Quarter-final / Crossover	TBC
27–28 Aug 2026	Semi-final	TBC
30 Aug 2026	Final	TBC