The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is about to begin, boasting two venues and a new format.
Sixteen teams will feature in both the men’s and women’s tournament, with action beginning on 15 August.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the first ball being hit.
What is the FIH Hockey World Cup?
The FIH Hockey World Cup is one of the sport’s biggest prizes.
Taking place every four years, it sees the world’s best teams come together to battle it out for the coveted title of World Champion.
Last time around Germany took the win in the men’s tournament, while the Netherlands earned glory on the women’s side.
When and where is it taking place?
Belgium and the Netherlands play joint hosts to the 2026 edition, with matches split between the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre and the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen.
The group phase gets underway on 15 August and runs for five days.
On 21 August, the second group phase and the 9th-16th classification matches begin, running until 24 August.
After a couple of rest days, 27 August sees the women’s semi-finals take place, as well as the final 5th-8th and 9th-16th classification fixtures.
The following day features the same schedule on the men’s side, before the women’s bronze-medal match and final on 29 August.
Bringing the tournament to a close will be the men’s bronze-medal match and final, both of which are set to take place on 30 August.
What is the format?
Even the most avid hockey fans may not recognise everything about the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, with a new format in place this year.
The sixteen nations in each event are divided into four groups of four, where each team will play against the other three in their pool.
Next, the top two teams from each group will progress to the second phase - two new pools of four.
Here, it is important to note the new carry-over rule: if two teams from the same first group qualify for the same second one, their head-to-head result carries over.
After another three matches, the two highest-placed teams in each second phase group will secure their semi-final spots.
And, as before, the World Cup will conclude with a bronze-medal match and a final to crown the winners.
Who is competing?
The Netherlands have dominated women’s hockey in recent years and enter the 2026 tournament as both defending champions and hosts.
As nine-time World Cup winners, five-time Olympic champions, and more than 500 points above anyone else in the world rankings, they look a force to be reckoned with.
Scotland's women are the first of the home nations to begin their campaign, against Germany at 10.30am BST on 15 August.
England follow a day later, against South Africa at 9am BST.
On the men’s side, Germany are the reigning champions but Belgium are the team to beat, coming into the tournament as world number one.
Their fellow hosts, the Netherlands, sit just behind in second, and the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallists know what it takes to win on the biggest stage.
England and Wales are in action for the home nations, with the Welsh men facing India at 12pm BST on 15 August, and the English team taking on Pakistan at 6pm BST the same day.
Where to watch:
Channel 4 will provide free live coverage of every England, Scotland and Wales match at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, on their Channel 4 Sport YouTube.
Wales fixtures will also be broadcast live in Welsh on S4C, and the same can be said for Scotland’s matches in Scottish Gaelic on BBC ALBA.
All tournament matches will be streamed live on FIH Watch.Hockey, with their World Cup 2026 pass priced at £44.99.
How have British nations fared at the Hockey World Cup?
A British nation has never won the Hockey World Cup but have come close in previous years.
England were runners-up in the men's edition on home soil in London in 1986, two years before Team GB won Olympic gold in Seoul.
England's women finished third in 2010 before back-to-back fourth-place finishes in 2014 and 2018 - either side of Team GB's gold medal at Rio 2016.
Scotland compete at the 2026 edition having last appeared in 2002, while Wales' sole appearance came in 1983.
On the men's side, Wales made their first appearance at the 2023 edition and have qualified for 2026.
Sportsbeat 2026