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Hockey World Cup 2026: New Format Puts Greater Emphasis On Pool-stage Results
The FIH Hockey Men: The FIH Hockey Men’s and Women’s World Cup 2026 will feature a revamped competition structure, with the traditional quarterfinal stage scrapped and the top two teams from each of the two crossover pools advancing directly to the semi-finals as Belgium and the Netherlands jointly host the tournament from August 15 to 30.
The new format means teams will have little margin for error from the outset, with results from the opening pool stage potentially carrying over into the next phase. India’s men have been drawn alongside England, Pakistan and Wales in Pool D, while the Indian women will face China, England and South Africa in their Pool D campaign.
The tournament will begin with the 16 teams in each competition split across four pools of four. From August 15 to 20, every team will play three matches against the other sides in its pool, with the final standings determining the composition of the next phase.
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