The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has announced that New Zealand and South Africa will host the fourth edition of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup, with the women’s tournament scheduled to take place in Auckland and the men’s competition set to be staged in Cape Town in June 2026.
The Nations Cup serves as a crucial international competition for teams outside the FIH Hockey Pro League, offering them an opportunity to compete at the highest level and potentially earn promotion to the prestigious global league.
The men’s FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2025–26 will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from June 11 to June 20, 2026, featuring a strong lineup of eight competitive teams. Alongside hosts South Africa, the tournament will include New Zealand, France, Korea, Japan, Wales, Malaysia, Scotland, and Ireland.
Scotland secured its place in the competition after winning promotion through the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2, while Ireland joins the field after being relegated from the 2024–25 FIH Hockey Pro League. The competition is expected to be highly competitive, with several teams aiming to secure promotion to the next edition of the Pro League.
For South Africa, the event represents a return to familiar territory. The country previously hosted the inaugural men’s Nations Cup in 2022 in Potchefstroom, where the host nation made history by winning the tournament. Since then, the competition has continued to grow in importance as a pathway for emerging hockey nations seeking greater exposure at the elite level.
The women’s FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2025–26 will take place shortly after, from June 15 to June 21, 2026, in Auckland, New Zealand. The tournament will feature another strong lineup of teams competing for promotion to the Pro League.
Hosts New Zealand will be joined by USA, Japan, Korea, Chile, Scotland, France, and India in the women’s competition. France secured its place through promotion from the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2, while India enters the tournament following relegation from the 2024–25 Pro League season.
The Nations Cup was introduced by the FIH in 2021 as part of a broader effort to expand competitive opportunities for international hockey teams that are not part of the Pro League. The tournament provides a meaningful platform for teams to challenge for promotion and continue improving their global rankings.
Under the competition structure, the winning team earns the opportunity to join the following season of the FIH Hockey Pro League, making the Nations Cup a high-stakes event for participating nations. Since its inception, the Nations Cup has already produced several memorable moments and competitive tournaments. In the women’s competition, India, Spain, and New Zealand have claimed the first three titles, showcasing the depth of talent among teams outside the Pro League.
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On the men’s side, South Africa won the inaugural edition in 2022, while New Zealand has dominated the competition since then, securing back-to-back titles in the following editions. With the fourth edition set to be played across two continents, the upcoming tournaments promise to deliver exciting international hockey and provide teams with another opportunity to prove themselves on the global stage.
Following the official announcement, FIH President Tayyab Ikram expressed his appreciation to both host nations and highlighted the significance of the competition in the international hockey calendar.
“On behalf of FIH, I would like to express our sincere thanks to the Hockey Associations of New Zealand and South Africa,” Ikram said. “We are delighted to have two outstanding host nations and cities for these remarkable tournaments.”
He also emphasised the global appeal of the competition and the excitement it generates among fans.
“I’m excited for the thrilling matches and the fantastic atmosphere that will unfold across two continents, as some of the world’s top men’s and women’s teams showcase their talent for hockey fans around the globe,” he added.
For teams such as India and Ireland, the Nations Cup will provide an immediate opportunity to bounce back from Pro League relegation and fight for a return to the elite circuit. For others like Scotland and France, the tournament represents a chance to continue their upward trajectory in international hockey.
With competitive fields in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2025–26 is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the next cycle of international hockey competitions as teams battle for promotion and global recognition.
