New Format for Hockey World Cup Emphasizes Importance of Opening Games

The FIH Men’s and Women’s World Cups, set to take place in Belgium and the Netherlands, will introduce a new three-stage format that highlights the significance of the opening games. Points earned in the first round will carry over to subsequent stages, impacting final rankings.

In this format, 16 teams will be divided into four pools, with the top two from each advancing to the second round. The remaining teams will enter a classification phase. The points accumulated in the first round will be crucial as teams aim for quarterfinal berths.

India's chief coach Craig Fulton noted the importance of gathering points in the league phase. The tournament will commence for India on August 15, with matches scheduled against Wales, England, and Pakistan in the men's category, and China, South Africa, and England in the women's category.