As we count down to the highly anticipated FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026, we take a closer look at the competing men's and women's teams ready to battle for global supremacy. In this special preview series, we profile each nation's journey to the tournament, examining their road to qualification, historic achievements, key players to watch, and the tactical minds leading them into the ultimate hockey showcase. In today’s story we take a look at the Welsh men’s team, ranked #15 in the world.
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After making their long-awaited FIH Hockey World Cup debut at Bhubaneswar & Rourkela 2023, Wales are preparing for a second successive appearance following an excellent qualification campaign in Santiago, Chile, earlier this year.
The team faced hosts Chile in a challenging opening fixture and rose to the occasion, with Nick Morgan and Gareth Furlong scoring in a hard-earned but thoroughly deserved 2-2 draw. A heavy 5-0 defeat to France left Wales needing victory over neighbours Scotland in their final pool match to keep their World Cup hopes alive. They responded superbly, cruising to a 5-0 win as a Fred Newbold double and further goals from Jack Pritchard, Rhys Bradshaw and Sam Welsh confirmed a semi-final meeting with Ireland.
Although the Green Machine proved too strong in a 4-0 victory before going on to lift the title, Wales bounced back in style. GB Olympian Gareth Furlong scored twice from penalty corners in a 2-1 victory over Poland in the third-place play-off to secure another historic World Cup qualification.
That achievement was another milestone in the remarkable rise of Welsh men's hockey. Having waited more than 50 years to reach their first World Cup, Wales have now qualified for back-to-back editions. They also celebrated success at the EuroHockey Championship II in Lousada, Portugal, winning the tournament to secure promotion to the expanded 2027 EuroHockey Championship in London. Jack Pritchard finished amongst the competition’s leading scorers with seven goals, while Gareth Griffiths added five as Wales progressed through a pool containing Switzerland, Scotland and Croatia before defeating Italy and Ireland in the semi-finals and final respectively.
How they qualified: 3rd place - 2026 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifier, Santiago (CHI)
Notable honours: Olympic bronze medallists (1908), 6th place – EuroHockey Championships (1978, 1999, 2019), Gold medallists – EuroHockey Championship II (2025), 6th place – Commonwealth Games (2022), 1st place – Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup, European Qualifier (2022).
Rank in previous WC editions: 2023 – 11th
Head coach: Danny Newcombe. Appointed in August 2020 after previous incumbent Zak Jones became assistant coach of Great Britain men, Newcome has magnificently built on the solid foundations laid by his predecessor. A key figure in the Wales coaching set up for 15 years, Newcome masterminded qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup not once but twice, with the team having never played in the global showpiece prior to their 11th place finish at Bhubaneswar-Rourkela 2023.
Quote: Chief Executive Hoci Cymru, Paul Whapham: "To qualify for the World Cup was a fantastic achievement, but to now see the players selected and preparing to compete on the world's biggest stage brings a real sense of excitement and pride. Returning to the World Cup for only the second time in our history is a remarkable milestone and demonstrates just how far this programme has come.
"The experience gained in India has provided a strong foundation for this group, and there is real belief and ambition within the squad as they prepare for the challenges ahead. Every player selected has earned the opportunity through their dedication, hard work and commitment to representing Wales at the highest level.
"This squad carries the hopes of the entire Welsh hockey community, and we know they will wear the red shirt with immense pride."
One to watch: Jacob Draper. An all-action player known for his energy and tenacity in the tackle, Jacob Draper is an integral part of the defensive and midfield lines of both Wales and Great Britain, representing the latter at both the Olympic Games of Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. Draper was named Player of the Tournament at the EuroHockey Championship II in Lousada, Portugal, where Wales took the title to seal qualification for the top tier EuroHockey Championship 2027.
FIH team / stats page: click here.
Website: hockeywales.org.uk
X: @hockeywales Facebook: Hoci Cymru Instagram: @hoci_cymru
The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 begins on 15 August, with both men’s and women’s teams in action on opening day across the Netherlands and Belgium. For more information on the competition including the competition format, pools and the complete match schedule, click here.
