The Hockey World Cup 2026 will bring together the world’s best men’s and women’s field hockey teams in two European hockey hotbeds – Belgium and the Netherlands. The joint tournament is being played at two main venues, the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium and the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
The tournament will see 16 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams with both competitions running at the same time. The tournament action will be staged at the two venues creating a fairly compact set-up for fans wanting to catch a number of matches.
Fans asking where the Hockey World Cup 2026 games will be held, well the answer is simple: Wavre and Amstelveen are the two cities hosting this year’s tournament.
Hockey World Cup 2026 Venues at a Glance
| Venue | City | Country | Main role |
| Belfius Hockey Arena | Wavre | Belgium | Belgian venue |
| Wagener Hockey Stadium | Amstelveen | Netherlands | Dutch venue |
Belfius Hockey Arena, Wavre
The Belfius Hockey Arena is the Belgian venue for the 2026 World Cup and is situated in Wavre, southeast of Brussels.
The Belfius Hockey Arena is Belgium’s new national hockey stadium as opposed to the long established Wagener Stadium. “The venue was built to provide a modern home for Belgian hockey and to be able to host big international events.
The FIH confirmed the new hockey turf was laid at the stadium ahead of the World Cup, with the venue set to host half of the tournament matches.
Which teams play in Wavre?
The pool matches for the Belgian men’s and women’s teams are in Wavre. The official World Cup information also lists a number of other pool games at the Belgian venue. The women’s Pool B and Pool C games are taking place in Belgium, as are the men’s Pool B and Pool C contests.
Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen
The other main venue is the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands. The stadium is one of the best known hockey grounds in the country and has a long association with Dutch international hockey. It is located close to Amsterdam, so it is especially easy to reach for international visitors who are staying in the Dutch capital.
The official World Cup draw was held at Wagener Stadium in March 2026, underscoring its importance as one of the central venues for this edition of the tournament.
Which teams play in Amstelveen?
The men’s and women’s teams of the Netherlands will play their pool-stage matches at the Wagener Stadium. The women’s Pool A and Pool D games will take place in the Netherlands and so will the men’s Pool A and Pool D games.
The Dutch venue thus provides home fans the opportunity to see the defending women’s world champions and a number of other top international sides.
Hockey World Cup 2026: Why are there only two main venues?
Rather than being spread across many cities, the 2026 tournament was organized jointly by Belgium and the Netherlands. The decision keeps the men’s and women’s World Cups together and plays to two established hockey markets. FIH has termed this edition as a combined tournament, with both competitions being played at the same venues simultaneously.
Where are India’s Hockey World Cup matches being played?
India’s men’s team is in Pool D with England, Pakistan and Wales, with the pool being played in Netherlands.
India’s women’s team are also in Pool D along with China, England and South Africa and those matches are also being played in Netherlands.
This makes the Wagener Stadium especially important to Indian hockey fans in the wake of the 2026 tournament.
Wavre vs Amstelveen: Which venue is easier for visitors?
Both venues are well connected but offer very different travel experiences.
Amstelveen is just south of Amsterdam making it very convenient for international visitors using Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Fans can stay in Amsterdam and visit the Wagener Stadium for the matches.
Wavre lies to the southeast of Brussels, so the Belgian capital is the obvious base for many overseas visitors. Brussels has an international airport and good rail links so fans will be able to combine the World Cup with a trip around Belgium.
What makes the Wagener Stadium special?
The Wagener Stadium lies very close to the heart of Dutch hockey. The Netherlands is one of the most successful countries in international hockey, especially in the women’s game. “Having the World Cup games at a venue that is so closely associated with Dutch hockey takes the tournament atmosphere to another level. The stadium also hosted the official draw in March, when the groups for the men’s and women’s tournaments were decided.
What makes the Belfius Hockey Arena special?
The Belfius Hockey Arena is a new chapter in Belgian hockey infrastructure. Described by the FIH as “Belgium’s new national hockey stadium”, it was constructed to provide a modern venue for major hockey events. It has a permanent seating capacity of 4,000, being increased to 10,000 for the World Cup.
For Belgium the stadium is a new home for its national teams and a chance for supporters to watch a major international tournament on home soil.
Will the knockout matches also be played at these venues?
When the tournament moves past the pool stage, the two main venues will be used. But the exact allocation of later matches depends on the format and results of the tournament. The FIH’s official schedule says the order of play in later stages can be confirmed once the prior stage has finished and some classification matches with a host could be moved between venues. Fans should therefore check the official FIH schedule before traveling to a specific match.
While the Hockey World Cup decides the premier champions in international field hockey, ice hockey has its own historic tournament. Read our breakdown of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to learn about its format, history, and most iconic moments
Hockey World Cup 2026: What fans should know
The compact two-venue structure makes the 2026 World Cup relatively straightforward to follow. Fans traveling to the Netherlands should head to Amstelveen and the Wagener Hockey Stadium, while supporters of Belgium’s teams should head to Wavre and the Belfius Hockey Arena.
The two cities also offer different experiences off the hockey field. Amstelveen brings Amsterdam within reach of visitors. Wavre provides access to Brussels and the wider Belgian region.
While field hockey teams compete on the world stage at the FIH World Cup, ice hockey features its own global showdowns between national teams. Explore our guide on International Ice Hockey: Olympics, IIHF & World Championship to see how tournament structures compare.
Planning your tournament viewing schedule? Head over to Sports Arcane for complete fixture timings, team odds, and expert sports coverage as the road to the championship unfolds
