As we countdown to the start of the new FIH Hockey Pro League season on 8 December 2026, we are excited to bring you an exclusive pre-season interview series with players and coaches from the world’s top hockey nations participating in the “League of the Best”.
This series will dive into the minds of the sport’s finest athletes and coaches, uncovering their thoughts on the upcoming season, personal goals, and the strategies their teams are crafting to compete at the highest level. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, these interviews provide a unique glimpse into the passion, preparation, and drive that fuel the teams vying for glory.
In today’s interview we speak with John John Dohmen, head coach of the French men's team...
How do you see France’s entry into the competition?
I think we need to start with a big performance. Whatever the result, the most important thing is to put in a great performance right from the start. Like all the other teams, we’ll also rotate the squad and give some new players a chance. I think that will be interesting, both for the French national team and for the FIH, to see some new players coming through.
What does taking part in this competition mean for the French national team and, more broadly, for the development of field hockey?
It’s very important for us. Playing against the world’s top eight teams is the only way to really improve. That’s why it’s a shame there aren’t more teams in the Pro League.
I think there are 10, or even 12, teams that could compete at this level, especially in the long term. If we allowed 12 or 13 teams to take part in the Pro League instead of just eight, we’d have 12 very strong teams.
So it’s really important for us to compete in this competition and to try to do so for several consecutive years. One year helps you improve, but it’s not enough to break into the world’s top eight.
When it comes to your opponents, are there any teams you’re particularly wary of?
I’m wary of all of them because these are the world’s top eight teams, and they’re definitely ahead of the other nations. I’m looking forward to playing against all of them, especially the teams playing at home, where I think there will be bigger crowds. I’m really looking forward to getting the Pro League underway.
How have your players been looking since the start of the season?
The guys have been in a really good frame of mind. We’re coming off a World Cup where we put in some good performances, but we didn’t get the final result we wanted. So we also want to show that we’re capable of more than that.
I can see that the guys are in a good place. Even though our preparation may not have been as good as that of some other nations, it’s still been solid, and we can show what the French team is capable of.
Looking further ahead, how do you see the next two years, with the Olympic Games and the qualification process on the horizon?
First, the priority will be to arrive at the qualification tournament with everyone fit and in good shape. Then we’ll have to qualify, which I think will be extremely difficult.
In fact, I think qualifying could potentially be harder for us than achieving a good result at the Olympic Games themselves. Once we’re at the Olympics, we’ll have nothing to lose.
We’ll have young players who will have developed significantly, a squad that will have worked together for three years, and a coaching staff that will have been with us throughout that time. At that point, we could really achieve something special and get a great result at the Olympics. But qualifying will be very difficult.
I’d say our chances are roughly one in two. We’ve done the calculations, and that’s more or less where we stand. So, in a way, qualifying could actually be harder than performing well once we get there.
