The road to European club hockey glory has been mapped out following the ABN AMRO EHL FINALS 2027 draw, setting up a series of mouthwatering encounters next Easter in Eindhoven.
It follows a spectacular opening weekend of EHL action at HC Oranje-Rood last week with the Dutch club set to be the host once more for the FINALS weekend which takes place from March 24th to 29th 2027.
The tournament will again bring together 24 of Europe’s top men’s and women’s teams across six days of elite hockey, alongside the EHL Hockey ID and Under-14 tournaments.
Women’s draw: champions await challengers
In the women’s competition, the national champions from the top four ranked nations were rewarded with direct passage to the FINAL8.
Dutch champions AH&BC Amsterdam, Belgian champions Gantoise, German titleholders Düsseldorfer HC and Spain’s Real Club de Campo de Madrid all advance straight to the FINAL8 stage.
That left eight clubs battling for the remaining places in the FINAL8 and the draw delivered a fascinating mix of established contenders and EHL newcomers.
Belgian debutants KHC Dragons will take on Germany’s Mannheimer HC, the 2024 silver medallists and four-time consecutive qualifiers. The winners earn a heavyweight quarter-final showdown with Amsterdam.
The second tie sees English champions Surbiton face Scottish newcomers Clydesdale Western, who qualified for Europe for the first time after winning the Scottish championship. The reward for the winner is a quarter-final meeting with Club de Campo.
On the other side of the draw, Spanish debutants Atlètic Terrassa face Irish champions Railway Union. Both clubs will sense an opportunity to make a major breakthrough with Düsseldorfer HC awaiting the winner.
The remaining FINAL12 contest pits reigning EHL Women champions SCHC against Lille MHC, the first French side to play in the competition. SCHC memorably claimed their first EHL title earlier this year thanks to a Yibbi Jansen goal. The winner advances to meet Gantoise.
First men’s FINAL12 format promises drama
The men’s competition takes on a new look in 2027 with the introduction of the FINAL12 format, expanding from eight teams in 2026.
Like the women’s competition, the national champions from the top four ranked nations were seeded directly into the FINAL8, with HC Rotterdam, Hamburger Polo Club, Old Georgians and Waterloo Ducks each placed in separate sections of the bracket.
Belgian side Braxgata were paired with Dutch giants AH&BC Amsterdam with brothers Tobias and Olivier Biekens potentially coming up against each other. The winners will advance to face HC Rotterdam in a tie guaranteed to feature one of Europe’s traditional powerhouses.
Royal Orée will look to add to their superb EHL ROUND1 debut last week when they meet English side Surbiton who are aiming to become the first English club to reach an EHL final. The winner joins Hamburger Polo Club in the FINAL8 stage.
In the second half of the draw, Spanish contenders Real Club de Campo take on Irish champions Lisnagarvey, who impressed with their Pool D success in Eindhoven to book their place at Easter. The reward is a quarter-final date with English champions Old Georgians.
The final FINAL12 fixture sees Austrian champions SV Arminen take on Dutch hosts HC Oranje-Rood Arminen have reached the Easter phase for a third time while Oranje-Rood returned to Europe’s elite level on home soil this season after a seven-year break. The Austrian side previously met the Eindhoven club’s forerunner Oranje-Zwart in the 2015 KO16 in Bloemendaal.
The match schedule will now be prepared in the coming week in consultation with the relevant stakeholders with ticket information set to be announced shortly afterwards.
ABN AMRO EHL FINALS 2027 Draw
EHL Women FINAL12
Match 1
- KHC Dragons (BEL) vs Mannheimer HC (GER)
- Winner plays AH&BC Amsterdam (NED)
Match 2
- Surbiton HC (ENG) vs Clydesdale Western HC (SCO)
- Winner plays Real Club de Campo (ESP)
Match 3
- Atlètic Terrassa HC (ESP) vs Railway Union HC (IRL)
- Winner plays Düsseldorfer HC (GER)
Match 4
- Lille MHC (FRA) vs SCHC (NED)
- Winner plays Gantoise HC (BEL)
EHL Men FINAL12
Match 1
- Braxgata HC (BEL) vs AH&BC Amsterdam (NED)
- Winner plays HC Rotterdam (NED)
Match 2
- Royal Orée (BEL) vs Surbiton HC (ENG)
- Winner plays Hamburger Polo Club (GER)
Match 3
- Real Club de Campo (ESP) vs Lisnagarvey HC (IRL)
- Winner plays Old Georgians (ENG)
Match 4
- SV Arminen (AUT) vs HC Oranje-Rood (NED)
- Winner plays Waterloo Ducks (BEL)
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