The 2026 Hockey World Cup Kicks Off: Dual Venues, Double Excitement
The XVI Field Hockey World Cup will officially begin on Saturday, August 15, 2026, and run through Sunday, August 30, 2026. The tournament will be played simultaneously across two European cities: Amstelveen (Netherlands) and Wavre (Belgium). The top 16 national teams in both the men's and women's divisions will compete for the sport's most coveted trophy.
The grand finals are scheduled for August 29 (women) and August 30 (men). Argentina will be represented by their beloved national squads, Las Leonas (The Lionesses) and Los Leones (The Lions). For a foreign audience, it is important to note that these names are not just mascots; they represent the fierce passion, resilience, and pride of Argentine field hockey, which is one of the most successful and popular sports in the country.
A New and Exciting Format
The tournament will introduce a new competition format. The 16 teams in each division will be divided into four groups of four in the first phase. The top two teams from each group will advance to a second phase, where they will form new groups of four, carrying over the points they earned. The top two teams from this second phase will advance directly to the semifinals.
Teams eliminated in the first phase will compete in playoffs for positions 9th through 16th, while those eliminated in the second phase will play for 5th through 8th place.
Las Leonas Schedule (Women)
Coached by Fernando Ferrara, the women's team will compete in Group B alongside Germany, the United States, and Scotland. Here is their group stage schedule (times indicated are in Argentine local time, UTC-3):
- Match 1: vs. USA – Saturday, August 15 at 12:30 PM
- Match 2: vs. Germany – Monday, August 17 at 12:00 PM
- Match 3: vs. Scotland – Wednesday, August 19 at 06:00 AM
The 20 players called up by Ferrara are: Cristina Cosentino, Mercedes Artola, Agustina Gorzelany, Valentina Raposo, Sofía Cairo, Sofía Toccalino, Milagros Alastra, Emma Knobl, Agostina Alonso, Juana Castellaro, Victoria Miranda, Victoria Sauze, Eugenia Trinchinetti, Paula Ortiz, María José Granatto, Victoria Granatto, Julieta Jankunas, Zoe Díaz, Brisa Bruggesser, and Lara Casas.
Los Leones Schedule (Men)
Under the guidance of Lucas Rey, the men's team will play in Group A against the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Japan. Their initial schedule is as follows (times indicated are in Argentine local time, UTC-3):
- Match 1: vs. Japan – Sunday, August 16 at 02:00 PM
- Match 2: vs. Netherlands – Tuesday, August 18 at 01:00 PM
- Match 3: vs. New Zealand – Thursday, August 20 at 07:30 AM
The 20 players selected by Rey are: Matías Andreotti, Bautista Capurro, Maico Casella, Nicolás Cicileo, Nicolás Della Torre, Tomás Domene, Martín Ferreiro, Thomas Habif, Nehuen Hernando, Ignacio Ibarra, Nicolás Keenan, Tadeo Marcucci, Lucas Martínez, Lucio Méndez Pin, Matías Rey, Tomás Ruiz, Tomás Santiago, Joaquín Toscani, Lucas Toscani, and Facundo Zárate.
Complete Group Breakdown
| Women's Groups | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A | Netherlands, Australia, Chile, Japan |
| Group B | Argentina, Germany, USA, Scotland |
| Group C | Belgium, Spain, Ireland, New Zealand |
| Group D | China, England, India, South Africa |
| Men's Groups | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A | Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, Japan |
| Group B | Belgium, Germany, France, Malaysia |
| Group C | Australia, Spain, Ireland, South Africa |
| Group D | England, India, Pakistan, Wales |
Historical Context: The Lionesses' Roar
Historically, Las Leonas have won 2 World Cup titles (Perth 2002 and Rosario 2010), in addition to 4 runner-up finishes and 3 third-place finishes. The Netherlands is the most successful team with 9 titles and enters the tournament as the three-time defending champion. Australia and Germany have also won 2 titles each.
On the men's side, Argentina's best result was a third-place finish in 2014. Pakistan is the most decorated team with 4 titles, followed by the Netherlands, Australia, and Germany with 3 titles each, while Italy and Belgium each hold one championship.
Where to Watch the Action
All the thrilling action of the 2026 Hockey World Cup will be broadcast through ESPN and the Disney+ Premium streaming platform, featuring special coverage of Las Leonas and Los Leones matches. Get ready to witness history in the making! For more updates and local coverage, you can visit Imago News.