A new chapter in hockey history began today as the inaugural FIH Para Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026 got underway, bringing together athletes from around the world to compete for the first-ever Para Hockey World Cup title.
From today until 24 August, Belgium and the Netherlands are hosting a landmark celebration of talent, determination, diversity and inclusion, as athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) take centre stage on the international hockey stage.
For the first time, Para Hockey athletes have the opportunity to compete for the title of World Champions, marking a defining moment for the athletes taking part and the sport.
The tournament is a powerful expression of principles firmly anchored in the DNA and policies of the International Hockey Federation (FIH): that hockey should be accessible, inclusive and open to everyone.
The inaugural World Cup features 16 teams, divided into two pools, with athletes with intellectual disabilities competing in mixed-gender teams. Matches are being played in an exciting 6-a-side format, bringing speed, energy and a dynamic style of hockey to the competition.
With teams representing four continents, the tournament also reflects the increasingly global reach of Para Hockey.
Pool A features Belgium, Italy, Germany, France, Pakistan, Zambia, Ireland and the USA.
Pool B brings together the Netherlands, Spain, Bulgaria, England, India, Malaysia, Chile and Argentina.
The competition is taking place from 20 to 24 August, with matches being played at Myra Hockey Club in the Netherlands and Louvain-la-Neuve Hockey Club in Belgium from 20 to 23 August.
The historic tournament will reach its climax on 24 August, when the final day moves to the venues where the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is currently being played: Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen and Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre.
The first-ever FIH Para Hockey World Cup has arrived. A new generation of hockey history is being written - and, from today, the athletes are the ones writing it.
