The countdown is officially on. In just one month, the “League of the Best” will burst back into action as the 2026-27 FIH Hockey Pro League gets underway on 8 December 2026.

Starting on the home turf of the newly crowned women’s World Champions in Córdoba, Argentina, the new campaign features 144 high-stakes matches spanning seven host nations, with reigning champions, returning contenders, and a direct ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28) all on the line.

Argentina Set to Ignite Opening Stage

The opening stage of the season (8-13 December 2026) heads to Córdoba, where Argentina’s passionate home fans will welcome the world’s elite.

The stage will see the Leonas, fresh off their triumph as women’s World Champions, and the Leones, men’s World Cup bronze medallists, launch their campaigns with immense local support. They will face formidable opening tests against China and Great Britain in the women’s competition, alongside Great Britain and France in the men’s.

Immediately following the Córdoba showdowns, the action travels across the Atlantic to Valencia, Spain (14-22 December 2026), where European powerhouses Spain, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands will collide before phase two begins in February 2027.

Welcome Back: India Women and France Men Rejoin the Elite

A defining narrative of the 2026-27 season is the much-anticipated return of two proud hockey nations:

• India Women: Following a dominant promotion campaign through the FIH Hockey Nations Cup, the Indian women rejoin the top tier, fresh off their best finish in the World Cup in over half a century, followed by a gold medal finish in the Asian Games that saw them secure LA28 Olympic qualification. They will step onto the Pro League turf in February 2027 through stages in Argentina and on home soil in India.

• France Men: Also earning promotion via the Nations Cup, the French men’s team brings flair, ambition, and rising momentum back to the top flight, kicking off their campaign right from match-day one in Córdoba. France have regularly earned the right to be considered dark horses at major international competitions over the past decade, and will look to use the Pro League to cement their place in the top tier of men’s hockey.

High Stakes: The Road to LA28

Since its inception in 2019, the FIH Hockey Pro League has stood as the pinnacle of annual international competition. This season, the stakes are as high as they have ever been: beyond the trophy, bragging rights across rivalries and vital FIH world ranking points, the winners of the 2026-27 Pro League will secure direct qualification for the LA28 Olympic Games, similar to the Belgian men and Dutch women, who secured their spot in the games by winning the 2025-26 season of the Pro League.

With every regulation point and shootout bonus vital in the standings, teams will battle through an intense global itinerary across Argentina, Spain, Australia (Gold Coast), India, Belgium (Wavre), Germany (Berlin & Hamburg), and the Netherlands (Utrecht & Den Bosch).

2026–27 Season Schedule at a Glance

• Argentina, Córdoba (8–13 Dec 2026): Argentina, China (W), France (M), Great Britain
• Spain, Valencia (14–22 Dec 2026): Spain, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands
• Argentina, Venue TBC (9–14 Feb 2027): Argentina (W), India (W), Germany (W)
• Australia, Gold Coast (13–21 Feb 2027): Australia, Belgium, China (W), France (M), Netherlands
• India, Venues TBC (13–28 Feb 2027): India, Argentina (M), Germany (M), Great Britain, Spain
• Belgium, Wavre (12–27 June 2027): Belgium, Argentina, Australia, China (W), France (M), Great Britain, India, Spain
• Germany, Berlin & Hamburg (12–27 June 2027): Germany, Australia, China (W), France (M), Great Britain, India
• Netherlands, Utrecht & Den Bosch (15–27 June 2027): Netherlands, Argentina, Great Britain, India, Spain

Follow the Action

• Watch Live: Stream all 144 matches LIVE on Watch.Hockey (subject to local broadcast rights agreements).

• Match Centre: Stay up to date with live scores, standings, and team news onthe official Hockey Live Scoresapp.

• Social Media: Join the global hockey community and follow along to the new season on our new channel dedicated to the FIH Hockey Pro League.