Belgium and Netherlands were given the hosting rights in November 2022, beating a joint bid from England and Wales as well as a South African bid in the process. This will be the first time the men's event is co-hosted. This also marks Belgium's first and Netherlands' fourth time hosting.
16 teams will participate for the third time after the expansion in 2018. Qualification was an amalgamation of the FIH Pro League, continental championships and the World Cup Qualifiers. Qualification took place in December 2023 to March 2026 to decide the qualifiers.
Germany are the defending champions after defeating the Belgium 5–4 in a shoot-out after the match finished 3–3 in regular time in Bhubaneswar.
Just as in 2018 and 2023, 16 teams will compete in the tournament. Alongside hosts, Belgium and Netherlands, the top-ranked team in the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons in the FIH Pro League and the five continental champions receive an automatic berth. Then 16 teams from all over the five continents competed for the last seven places at the World Cup Qualifiers.[6] Out of them England, Pakistan and Japan being the top three teams at the qualifier held at Ismailia qualified for the World Cup tournament. On the other hand, Malaysia qualified on the basis of their world ranking.[7] At the qualifier held at Santiago, three teams namely, Ireland, France and Wales got first three positions locking their places in the Men's World Cup hockey tournament.[8]
Highlighted are the countries that are participating in the 2026 Men's FIH Hockey World Cup.
Qualified
Qualified as hosts
Team whose qualification status has yet to be decided
First match(es) will be played: 16 August 2026. Source: FIH Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) matches won; 3) goal difference; 4) goals for; 5) head-to-head result; 6) field goals scored. (H) Hosts
First match(es) will be played: 15 August 2026. Source: FIH Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) matches won; 3) goal difference; 4) goals for; 5) head-to-head result; 6) field goals scored. (H) Hosts
First match(es) will be played: 16 August 2026. Source: FIH Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) matches won; 3) goal difference; 4) goals for; 5) head-to-head result; 6) field goals scored.
First match(es) will be played: 15 August 2026. Source: FIH Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) matches won; 3) goal difference; 4) goals for; 5) head-to-head result; 6) field goals scored.
Belgium
Netherlands
Australia
Spain
Montevideo
Argentina
Mönchengladbach
Rajgir
New Zealand
Ismailia
South Africa
England
Japan
Malaysia
Pakistan
Santiago
France
Ireland
Wales
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