The groups for the 2026 Men’s Hockey World Cup were announced on Tuesday by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), ahead of the tournament which will take place in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30.
According to the FIH, the pools for the upcoming show were revealed during the official draw ceremony, held here at the Wagener Stadium, which was attended by IH President Tayyab Ikram, FIH Vice President and EuroHockey President Marcos Hofman, head coaches and captains of the Netherlands and Belgium teams and several other key figures.
This year’s mega-event will feature 16 teams, including four-time champions Pakistan, divided into four groups of four.
Pool A includes the Netherlands, Japan, Argentina and New Zealand, while another co-hosts Belgium and defending champions Germany, alongside France and Malaysia who make up Pool B.
Australia, Spain, Ireland and South Africa are in Pool C, while Pool D includes arch-rivals Pakistan, India, and England and Wales.
In accordance with the competition formula of the tournament, the top two teams from each of the four pools will advance to the next stage, where the eight qualified teams will then be divided into two groups of four.
The first two teams from pools A and D will form pool E, while pool F will bring together the first two teams from pools B and C.
At the end of the second stage, the top two teams from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals, the winners of which will face each other in the final, which will be played at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium, on August 30.
It is pertinent to mention that the complete match schedule of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 will be announced in due course.
Pools for the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup
- Pool A: Netherlands, Argentina, Japan and New Zealand.
- Pool B: Belgium, Germany, France and Malaysia.
- Pool C: Australia, Spain, Ireland and South Africa.
- Pool D: Pakistan, India, England and Wales.
