The biggest event on the field hockey calendar has arrived. The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 runs from August 15 to 30, jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, with matches split across two venues: Wavre in Belgium and Amstelveen in the Netherlands.
## A First-of-Its-Kind Co-Hosting
This is the first time the men’s World Cup has been co-hosted by two nations, with Belgium staging matches for the first time and the Netherlands hosting for a fourth time. Both the men’s and women’s tournaments run in parallel across the same two-week window, giving fans a packed daily schedule of world-class hockey.
## Tournament Format
Both the men’s and women’s competitions feature 16 teams split into four pools of four. Every side plays each team in its pool once, before the tournament moves into knockout and classification rounds. If pool structures still feel confusing, our explainer on how the Hockey World Cup pools work breaks it down step by step.
## Who’s Defending Their Title
Germany enter as the men’s defending champions after a dramatic shoot-out final in the last edition, while the Netherlands head into the women’s tournament fresh off strong recent form. Belgium arrive as the current world No. 1 men’s side, adding extra intrigue to the Belgium vs Netherlands rivalry that has defined European hockey for years.
## India’s Campaign
India’s men begin their campaign hoping to end a decades-long wait for a second World Cup title, while India’s women face a tough pool. For a closer look at India’s roster and expectations, read our India Hockey Team squad analysis and our breakdown of India’s medal chances.
## How to Follow the Action
With matches running daily across both venues, fans will want a reliable way to catch every game live. Our live streaming guide covers where to watch every match.
From August 15, all eyes turn to Wavre and Amstelveen as the world’s best hockey nations chase global glory.