DOHA: Traditional rivals India and Pakistan placed in the same group in the men’s competition of FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026, setting the stage for a highly anticipated and emotionally charged clash between the two hockey powerhouses.
An exciting official draw ceremony held today at the iconic Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands—one of the two venues for the upcoming tournament, alongside the brand-new Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium—has determined the eight pools The highlight of the draw saw
The ceremony, attended by officials and representatives from participating nations, officially mapped out the path to the knockout stages, with teams now turning their focus to preparations for one of the sport’s biggest global events.
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.
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)
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)
