Sport can help ‘foster peace’ when ‘our world’ is ‘torn apart by conflict,’ 2026 FIH World Cup draw

Pool B features Argentina, Germany, USA, and Scotland.

The USA Women’s Field Hockey team is in Pool B for the 2026 FIH World Cup.

“In today’s fractured world, sport — and events such as this in particular — can play a substantial role in bringing people together,” FIH President Tayyab Ikram said in a statement. “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.”

The official draw ceremony was held Tuesday at the iconic Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, which is one of the two venues of the upcoming World Cup. There are four pools in both the men’s and women’s categories.

The other turf facility for the world event is the brand-new Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium.

“Today’s draw marks another major milestone on the road to the most prestigious FIH event, the FIH Hockey World Cup,” Ikram said.

He added, “The upcoming edition, for both women and men, co-hosted by two hockey 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.”

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, according to FIH.

Here are the pools:

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)

Match schedule

The FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026 will be held in Amsterdam and Wavre from August 15 to 30.

The full match schedule will be announced March 18.

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