Hockey World Cup 2026 New Format Explained: No Quarterfinals, New Second Round Pool Stage Introduced
New Delhi, Aug 14: The men's and women's hockey World Cups are right on the horizon as the top teams around the world gear up for the ultimate showpiece in Belgium and the Netherlands. 16 heavyweights each in the men's and women's circuits will step onto the field, giving it their all for the coveted trophies in the World Cups that run simultaneously from August 15 to 30. While the guile and…
The men's and women's Hockey World Cups are set to kick off in Belgium and the Netherlands, with 16 top teams competing for the prestigious titles. However, the tournament will feature a new format, ditching the traditional quarterfinals and introducing a second round pool stage instead.
Traditionally, 16 teams were placed in four pools of four each. The top two teams from each pool advanced to the quarterfinals, followed by semifinals, the bronze medal match, and the gold medal showdown. But this time around, the top two teams from each initial pool phase will move on to the second round pool phase, with the third and fourth-ranked teams from the first pool stage battling it out in Pool G and H.
The second round pool stage will consist of two pools, E and F, with the top two teams from the previous pool stage qualifying for these pools. Pool E will feature the top two teams from Pool A and D, while Pool F will have the top two sides from Pool B and C. These teams will play two matches each, not three, and carry over their points from the first group stage to the second group phase.
The teams that remain in the top two in Pool E and F will ultimately qualify for the semifinals. The Pool E winners will face the Pool F runners-up, while the Pool E runners-up will take on the Pool F winners. The semi-final winners will compete for the gold medal match, with the bronze medal game for the teams that lost the semi-finals.
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