The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is set to host the first ever FIH Para Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands in August 2026, a landmark event that will bring together athletes with intellectual disabilities under the world‑championship banner for the first time.
Spanning from 20 to 24 August, the tournament will be staged across four venues, including the Myra Hockey Club in the Netherlands and the Louvain‑la‑Neuve Hockey Club in Belgium, with the final day moving to the iconic Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen and the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre.
Competition will follow a mixed‑gender, six‑player format that blends speed with dynamic play, featuring 16 nations divided into two pools. Pool A includes Belgium, Italy, Germany, France, Pakistan, Zambia, Ireland and the United States, while Pool B comprises the Netherlands, Spain, Bulgaria, England, India, Malaysia, Chile and Argentina.
"This World Cup is a celebration of diversity, inclusion and opportunity," FIH President Tayyab Ikram said, underscoring the event’s alignment with the federation’s commitment to accessibility.
The competition is the culmination of more than fourteen years of advocacy by athletes, coaches, national associations, volunteers, families and supporters, who have worked tirelessly to create a platform where inclusion is not just welcomed but championed.
A Milestone for Inclusive Hockey
The inaugural championship marks a historic shift in the sport’s landscape, signaling a new era where Para Hockey joins the mainstream calendar of world championships alongside its able‑bodied counterpart.
Beyond the matches, organizers hope the tournament will reshape global perceptions of disability sport, challenge entrenched norms and inspire future generations to see sport as a universal language of empowerment.