3 weeks ago
Hockey World Cup 2026 drops quarterfinals, adopts crossover pool format
In 2026, there will be a very big hockey tournament called the Hockey World Cup.
Two countries, Belgium and the Netherlands, will host it together for both men's and women's teams.
The tournament has a new set of rules that changes how teams move forward.
Before, there was a special round called the quarterfinals, but now that round is gone.
Instead, teams play games in small groups first.
The teams that do the best from those groups move into new groups.
Some results from the first games follow the teams into the next round, so every game counts.
If teams have the same number of wins, goal difference decides who finishes on top.
Coaches say the new rules are different, but they plan to make the best of them.
The women's final will be in the Netherlands on August 29, and the men's final will be in Belgium on August 30.
The FIH Hockey Men's and Women's World Cup 2026 scraps the traditional quarterfinal stage, with the top two teams from crossover Pools E and F advancing directly to the semi-finals.
Belgium and the Netherlands jointly host the tournament from August 15 to 30, 2026, with the women's final on August 29 and the men's final on August 30.
Sixteen teams per competition play three pool matches from August 15 to 20, and one head-to-head result carries forward into the second phase from August 21 to 24.
India's men are drawn in Pool D alongside England, Pakistan and Wales, while the Indian women face China, England and South Africa.
Coaches Sjoerd Marijne and Craig Fulton say the new structure rewards consistency, with goal difference potentially decisive in tightly contested pools.
- Who
- The International Hockey Federation (FIH), 16 men's and 16 women's national teams, and coaches Sjoerd Marijne (India women) and Craig Fulton (India men).
- What
- The 2026 Hockey Men's and Women's World Cup adopts a revamped format that removes the quarterfinals and sends the top two teams from crossover Pools E and F straight to the semi-finals.
- Where
- Jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands; the women's event concludes in the Netherlands and the men's in Belgium.
- When
- August 15 to 30, 2026.
- Why
- The restructured format places a premium on consistency in pool play, with early results carrying forward and goal difference potentially decisive.
Traditional Format Supporters
New Format Backers
Removal of Quarterfinals
Traditional Format Supporters
India women's coach Sjoerd Marijne would have preferred the traditional quarterfinal route, calling quarterfinal matches among the most exciting in a tournament.
New Format Backers
The new structure rewards higher-ranked teams and consistency across pool play, and coaches acknowledge it presents opportunities they must exploit.
Advantage for Higher-Ranked Teams
Traditional Format Supporters
Marijne says higher-ranked teams will prefer the revamped format, suggesting it removes the drama that knockout quarterfinals bring.
New Format Backers
Carry-forward results and goal difference reward teams that start well, giving a strong opening pool campaign a crucial advantage heading into the crossover stage.
Key facts
- Host Nations
- Belgium and the Netherlands
- Tournament Dates
- August 15-30, 2026
- Format Change
- Quarterfinals scrapped; top two from crossover Pools E and F advance directly to semi-finals
- Participating Teams
- 16 men's and 16 women's teams, split into four pools of four
- India Men's Pool D
- India, England, Pakistan, Wales
- India Women's Pool D
- India, China, England, South Africa
- Carry-Forward Rule
- The Phase 1 head-to-head result between teams progressing from the same original pool carries into Phase 2
- Decisive Stage Schedule
- Classification matches and semi-finals August 27-28; women's final August 29 (Netherlands); men's final August 30 (Belgium)
Quotes
Sjoerd Marijne
Head coach of the Indian women’s hockey team
““It’s an interesting schedule, but my preference is to have quarterfinals in a tournament format. I understand that for higher‑ranked teams in the world they will prefer this, but I think quarterfinal matches are among the most exciting matches in a tournament. But it is how it is, and we will deal with this and make the best of this format. I am always thinking in opportunities, and there are opportunities also within this format.””
thehansindia.com
thehansindia.com
“"The format of this tournament has obviously changed drastically — from having quarter‑finals to not having them. So the emphasis on the pool games is really, really important, because it's obviously the top two that go through."”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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