Flag‑off ceremony sets the stage
On Saturday, 18 July, the City Park Hockey Stadium in Nairobi will host the official flag‑off for Kenya’s Masters hockey squads as they gear up for the 2026 World Masters Hockey World Cup. The ceremony, organised by the Kenya Hockey Union, will see the four national teams — Men’s Over‑40, Men’s Over‑45, Men’s Over‑50 and Women’s Over‑35 — formally launched before a gathering of officials, players and fans.
The tournament itself will unfold from 22 July to 1 August across a cluster of Dutch venues — Rotterdam, Schiedam and Breda — and the Belgian town of Brasschaat. Matches in the men’s Over‑45 and Over‑50 divisions are slated for HC Rotterdam, while the women’s Over‑35 side will contest its games at HC Schiedam. This spread reflects the event’s multinational footprint, blending the sporting traditions of the Netherlands and Belgium.
A global celebration of lifelong play
The 2026 edition of the World Masters Hockey World Cup is billed as the premier gathering of veteran players from around the world, with roughly 400 teams expected to compete under the theme “Generation of Greatness – We Don’t Stop Playing.” The competition celebrates continued participation in hockey, offering former internationals and club legends a stage to showcase enduring skill and passion.
Kenya will join a select group of African nations — Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ghana and Egypt — in a field that also features powerhouses such as the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, England, Argentina, New Zealand, Malaysia, Ireland, Japan and France. While the Kenyan squads will face seasoned opponents, they enter the tournament with the aim of raising the country’s profile on a global stage.
Following the flag‑off, the Kenyan teams are scheduled to depart for the Netherlands in the days that follow, heading into an intensive preparation period before their opening fixtures on 22 July. The journey from Nairobi to Rotterdam marks not only a logistical shift but also a symbolic passage as the players transition from domestic competition to an international arena.