Hockey World Cup to be played in new format; quarterfinal stage scrapped

 
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. 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. The top two teams from Pools A and D will move into Pool E, while the leading two teams from Pools B and C will form Pool F. The top two finishers from Pool E and Pool F will advance directly to the last four. The women’s tournament will conclude in the Netherlands on August 29, with the bronze-medal match followed by the final. The men’s World Cup will conclude in Belgium a day later, on August 30, with its bronze-medal match and final.