FIH unveils pools and schedule for inaugural Para Hockey World Cup 2026
By Nawaz Gohar ; The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has officially announced the participating teams and pool compositions for the historic first-ever FIH Para Hockey World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to take place from August 20 to 24, 2026, co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
The inaugural event will feature a 6-a-side format, with competing nations divided into two strategic pools:
Pool A (Matches in Belgium): Belgium, Italy, Germany, France, Pakistan, Zambia, Paraguay, and the United States.
Pool B (Matches in Netherlands): Netherlands, Spain, Bulgaria, England, India, Malaysia, Chile, and Argentina.
The preliminary rounds will be hosted at HC Myra in Amstelveen, Netherlands, and Louvain-la-Neuve HC in Belgium. In a significant move toward integration, the final matches will be held at the primary venues of the FIH Hockey Men’s and Women’s World Cup 2026: the Wagener Stadium (Amstelveen) and the Belfius Hockey Arena (Wavre).
FIH President Tayyab Ikram expressed immense pride in the launch of the event, describing it as a definitive shape-shifting moment for the sport. “This inaugural Para Hockey World Cup is a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion,” President Ikram stated.
“I am deeply honored that under my presidency, we are launching an event that will contribute substantially to the global development of the sport.”
Para Hockey, specifically designed for athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID), was established 14 years ago. The FIH has championed the format for years as part of its core values. Recent surveys indicate a surge in global participation, with over 30 National Associations now actively running Para Hockey programs. Notably, the format promotes gender equality by featuring mixed-gender teams.
