The Women’s Hockey World Cup runs alongside the men’s tournament in 2026, and it promises just as much drama, quality and intensity across two weeks of world-class hockey.
## When and Where
The women’s tournament runs from August 15 to 30, 2026, sharing hosting duties between Belgium and the Netherlands across the Wavre and Amstelveen venues — the same dates and cities covered in our Hockey World Cup 2026 schedule.
## Tournament Format
Like the men’s event, the women’s World Cup features 16 teams split into four pools of four, with the top finishers advancing toward the knockout stages. Our explainer on Hockey World Cup pools explained applies equally to the women’s competition.
## The Favourites
The Netherlands enter the tournament with a proud recent history in women’s hockey and home advantage in Amstelveen. Several other traditional powerhouses are expected to challenge deep into the knockout rounds, with plenty of star power featured in our list of top women’s hockey players.
## India’s Campaign
India’s women face a challenging pool as they continue their pursuit of a maiden World Cup title. It’s a tougher road than the men’s side, but one built on genuine progress in recent years — a topic our broader piece on India’s medal chances at the Hockey World Cup explores in more depth.
## Goalkeeping and Set Pieces to Watch
Just like the men’s game, penalty corners are likely to decide tight matches. If you need a refresher, our guide to the penalty corner explained covers exactly how the set piece works.
## How to Watch
Matches run daily throughout the tournament window. Check our live streaming guide for broadcast details covering both the men’s and women’s competitions.
Two weeks of elite women’s hockey await — and with several genuine title contenders in the field, this edition has all the makings of a classic.