FIH Hockey World Cup: India, Pakistan in same pool as FIH announces groups for showpiece event
(Courtesy : Hockey India)
The women’s FIH Hockey World Cup draw was also announced simultaneously.
An exciting official draw ceremony held at the iconic Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands—one of the two venues where the upcoming World Cup will be held, alongside the brand-new Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium—has determined the eight Pools of the group stage of the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026:
Pools for FIH Hockey World Cup
Women
- Pool A: Netherlands, Australia, Chile, Japan (playing in the Netherlands)
- Pool B: Argentina, Germany, USA, Scotland (playing in Belgium)
- Pool C: Belgium, Spain, New Zealand, Ireland (playing in Belgium)
- Pool D: China, England, India, South Africa (playing in the Netherlands)
Men
- Pool A: Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, Japan (playing in the Netherlands)
- Pool B: Belgium, Germany, France, Malaysia (playing in Belgium)
- Pool C: Australia, Spain, Ireland, South Africa (playing in Belgium)
- Pool D: England, India, Pakistan, Wales (playing in the Netherlands)
The draw was done by international hockey legends Naomie van As, Barbara Neelen and Teun de Nooijer, as well as DJ La Fuente, who was announced as Dutch Ambassador for the World Cup during the ceremony.
FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “Today’s draw marks another major milestone on the road to the most prestigious FIH event, the FIH Hockey World Cup! The upcoming edition, for both women and men, co-hosted by two powerhouses, promises to be a resounding success.
“We are very grateful to both Belgium and the Netherlands for hosting our top athletes and the global hockey community in less than six months’ time.
“In today’s fractured world, sport—and events such as this in particular—can play a substantial role in bringing people together. It can foster peace at times when our world is torn apart by conflict.
“I invite all fans around the world to join in, and I already wish all participating athletes an unforgettable experience!”
Match Schedule
The FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026 will be held in Amsterdam and Wavre from 15 to 30 August 2026. The full match schedule will be announced tomorrow, 18 March.
Mascots
Another important World Cup duo was revealed today: two playful and energetic mascots, representing the joy, teamwork and energy of hockey! One per gender.
Round—just like a hockey ball and like our world—they symbolise how hockey brings people together from every corner of the globe. A campaign will soon be launched to invite fans to give names to these mascots.
When and where did the Pool stage draw for FIH Hockey World Cup take place?
The draw ceremony was held at the Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands on March 18.
What are the groups for the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026?
Pool A: Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, Japan (playing in the Netherlands)
Pool B: Belgium, Germany, France, Malaysia (playing in Belgium)
Pool C: Australia, Spain, Ireland, South Africa (playing in Belgium)
Pool D: England, India, Pakistan, Wales (playing in the Netherlands)
What are the groups for the Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026?
Pool A: Netherlands, Australia, Chile, Japan (playing in the Netherlands)
Pool B: Argentina, Germany, USA, Scotland (playing in Belgium)
Pool C: Belgium, Spain, New Zealand, Ireland (playing in Belgium)
Pool D: China, England, India, South Africa (playing in the Netherlands)
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Alex graduated in mass communication in 2016 and has been covering global sports for Khel Now since then. He is covering sports tech, igaming, sports betting and casino domain from 2017.