Defending champion Germany books spot for FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026: Full list of qualified teams so far
Three-time champion Germany will have the chance to defend its title at the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026, set to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands, after successfully qualifying for the tournament.
Germany, the winner of the previous World Cup held in India in 2023, secured a berth at next year’s event at the ongoing EuroHockey Championships.
At the ongoing continental tournament in Moenchengladbach, Germany beat Spain 4-1 while the Netherlands took down France 3-1 in the semifinals on Thursday. Germany has grabbed the qualification spot reserved for the tournament winner since the Netherlands is already assured of a berth at the World Cup by virtue of being one of the hosts.
How many teams have qualified for the World Cup?
Six teams have qualified so far for the World Cup.
-Belgium and Netherlands, on account of being hosts of the event, gained direct qualification.
-Australia qualified by winning the FIH Pro League 2023-24.
-Spain qualified by finishing third behind Belgium and FIH Pro League 2024-25 champion Netherlands since the two, on account of being hosts of the World Cup, already secured direct spots.
-Argentina qualified by winning the Pan American Cup 2025.
-Germany qualified by reaching the EuroHockey Championships 2025 final where it faces the Netherlands, which has already secured a spot by virtue of being a co-host.
How many spots are remaining for the World Cup?
Ten spots for next year’s World Cup are still up for grabs.
-Three will go to the winners of the continental events in Asia, Africa and Oceania.
-The last seven spots will be decided through the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in 2026.
How can India qualify for the World Cup?
India can qualify for the World Cup by either winning the Asia Cup, set to be held in Rajgir (Bihar) from August 29 to September 8, or grabbing one of the seven spots which will be decided at the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in 2026.