2026 FIH Pro League Programme

FIH Hockey Pro League LONDON, BLOCKS 3 & 4 • 13-28 JUNE 2026 LEE VALLEY HOCKEY AND TENNIS CENTRE

MEN

WOMEN

LONDON

OFFICIAL PROGRAMME

WELCOME FROM RICH BEER, CEO, ENGLAND HOCKEY

England Hockey is pleased to offer a very big welcome to our home stages of the FIH Hockey Pro League Season 7, featuring another exciting series of international hockey matches here at our home – Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, London.

I am excited to see our teams in action in front of a home crowd as we host some of the best nations in the world including Argentina, Australia, Germany and Spain. We are also very excited to host India and Pakistan, both such fantastic fixtures in world hockey – and we are delighted that England Men will get to face them across Block 4.

For ourselves and our opponents, these matches and the further FIH Hockey Pro League games this month, play an important part in our preparations for the FIH Hockey World Cup in August, hosted in Netherlands and Belgium. In addition, this will be the last time fans get to see our England teams play on home soil before EuroChamsp27 in July and August next year.

www.englandhockey.co.uk

Our teams are incredibly grateful for your support, and we hope that you enjoy the hockey and the ancillary sports presentation and activities we are running alongside the games.

The international programme comes off the back of a very successful domestic season and our sincere thanks to the volunteers, coaches, officials, schools, and hockey clubs over the last 12 months who have worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for so many in our sport.

Events like this wouldn’t happen without a huge amount of support. We are particularly grateful to our Hockey Maker team whose dedication and commitment is second to none in sport, we really value them all. We also thank the staff here at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre for their support in hosting us and in the detailed planning for the event.

Finally, thank you again for all your support and please do go home and tell people about the great experience here, and about this wonderful game of ours.

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MATCH SCHEDULE Men’s Fixtures

Women’s Fixtures

CLICK FOR THE

LATEST RESULTS

BLOCK 3

Match 1

Match 2

Saturday

13 June

12:30 England v Argentina

15:00 England v Germany

Sunday

14 June 12:30 England v Australia

15:00 England v Germany

Wednesday 17 June 17:00 Australia v Argentina 19:30 Germany v Australia Thursday

18 June 17:00 Argentina v Australia 19:30 Australia v Germany

Saturday

20 June 12:30 England v Argentina

15:00 England v Australia

Sunday

21 June

11:30 England v Australia

14:00 England v Australia

Match 1

Match 2

BLOCK 4 Tuesday

23 June 12:00 Spain v Argentina

Wednesday 24 June 11:00 England v Spain

14:30 Pakistan v India 13:30 England v Pakistan

Thursday

25 June 17:00 England v Argentina

19:30 England v India

Friday

26 June 15:30 Argentina v Spain

18:00 India v Pakistan

Saturday

27 June 13:30 England v Spain

16:00 England v Pakistan

Sunday

28 June 13:30 England v Argentina

16:00 England v India

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www.fih.hockey/events/fih-pro-league

WHAT IS THE FIH HOCKEY PRO LEAGUE? The FIH Hockey Pro League is the annual global competition that brings together the world’s top nine women’s and nine men’s national teams for a season of elite, high‑intensity international hockey.

will qualify directly for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. It is the first time the Pro League has offered Olympic qualification, adding a new competitive edge to every fixture.

Played in centralised blocks around the world, including this London stage, the format sees nations meet in one venue and face each opponent twice – a structure designed to deliver consistent, top‑level competition and a league table where every point has a purpose.

The league also forms a key part of the build‑up to the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 in the Netherlands and Belgium, providing world‑class preparation and ranking points ahead of the tournament.

At the end of the campaign, the team finishing top is crowned FIH Hockey Pro League Champion and this season’s edition carries even greater significance as the winners of the 2025-26 women’s and men’s leagues

www.englandhockey.co.uk

At the other end of the table, the team finishing last is replaced by the winner of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup, ensuring new countries are involved each season.

REIGNING CHAMPIONS: Netherlands (Men & Women)

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CURRENT STANDINGS

CLICK OR SCAN FOR THE

LATEST TABLES

MEN’S TABLE

GP

W

WD

D

LD

L

GD PTS

1

Belgium

8

7

0

0

1

0

16

22

2

Australia

8

6

1

0

1

0

13

21

3

Argentina

8

5

1

0

0

2

11

17

4

Netherlands

8

4

0

0

3

1

8

15

5

England

8

3

3

0

0

2

3

15

6

Germany

8

3

0

0

0

5

-2

9

7

Spain

8

1

1

0

0

6

-9

5

8

India

8

0

1

0

2

5

-16

4

9

Pakistan

8

0

0

0

0

8

-24

0

Correct as at 11/06/26

WOMEN’S TABLE

GP

W

WD

D

LD

L

GD PTS

1

Netherlands

8

7

0

1

0

0

23

24

2

Belgium

8

7

0

0

0

1

10

21

3

Argentina

8

5

1

1

0

1

7

17

4

China

8

4

1

0

0

3

-2

14

5

Spain

8

3

2

0

1

2

1

14

6

England

8

2

0

0

1

5

-7

7

7

Ireland

8

1

1

0

1

5

-6

6

8

Australia

8

0

1

0

1

6

-14

3

9

Germany

8

0

0

0

2

6

-12

2

Correct as at 11/06/26

www.englandhockey.co.uk

7

NEW TO HOCKEY? Here’s your quick-fire guide to the rules!

Substitutes

Cards

There are unlimited rolling subs, but they cannot be made between the period of a penalty corner being awarded, and a penalty corner being taken.

• • •

Penalty Corners Penalty corners are awarded for: •

•

•

• •

offences by a defender in the circle which does not prevent the probable scoring of a goal an intentional offence in the circle by a defender against an opponent who does not have possession of the ball an intentional offence by a defender outside the circle, but within the 23 metre area they are defending a defender intentionally playing the ball over the back-line the ball becoming lodged in a player’s clothing or equipment while in the circle they are defending

A green card means the player goes to the sin bin for two minutes A yellow card means the player goes to the sin bin for a minimum five minutes A red card mean the player is permanently suspended from the game

Shootout The exciting way to decide the result if the score is level at full-time! Here are the rules: • • •

• •

Five players from each team take part The ball is placed on the nearest 23m line opposite the centre of the goal The goalkeeper or defending player will start on or behind the goal-line between the posts When the whistle is blown, the attacking player has eight seconds to score!

If the scores are still level after five attempts each, the competition moves to sudden death...

Penalty Strokes Penalty strokes are awarded for: •

•

offences by a defender in the circle which does prevent the probable scoring of a goal an intentional offence in the circle by a defender against an opponent who does have possession of the ball

www.englandhockey.co.uk

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STAT ATTACK As we come into Block 3, we are half way through the FIH Hockey Pro League 2025/26 edition, with plenty of action in the 36 games in each tournament so far. Here’s a few stats you may not know...

MEN’S STATS

WOMEN’S STATS

180 GOALS 97 Field Goals 73 Penalty Corner Goals 10 Penalty Stroke Goals

QUICK FIRE FACT: There have been 0 0-0 draws at full-time in the men’s league so far!

at an average of 5 goals per game!

117 GOALS

QUICK FIRE FACT: The only game to have finished 0-0 at fulltime so far is Australia v Ireland in February.

69 Field Goals 44 Penalty Corner Goals 04 Penalty Stroke Goals at an average of 3.25 goals per game!

26 GOALS

30 GOALS

THE NETHERLANDS is the highest scoring team in the Pro League so far having netted 26 times in 8 games averaging 3.25 per match.

BELGIUM is the highest scoring team so far in the men’s Pro League with 30 goals, averaging 3.75 per match.

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QUICK FIRE FACT:

3-2 is the most common CAPS: scoreline in the men’s The most capped player in London is tournament, having India’s Manpreet occured five times!

Singh with a huge 411 appearances!

QUICK FIRE FACT:

The most common scoreline in the women’s tournament, with four appearances, is 2-1.

TOP GOALSCORERS The top goalscorer in the league is the Netherlands’ Yibbi Jansen with 8 goals in 8 games. England’s Tess Howard sits at number 5 in the table with 4 goals in 8 games, but also on display here in Block 4 is Patricia Alvarez of Spain who has 5 goals and Argentina’s Agustina Gorzelany (pictured above) who also has 5 goals. She is one of the tournament’s biggest threats from penalty corners, so you could be in for a goalscoring treat in Block 4!

TOP GOALSCORERS If you’re here to watch a match involving Argentina, you’ll be watching the tournament’s highest goalscorer at the moment, Tomas Domene with 12 goals.

Look out for shirt No 12 when Argentina take to the pitch!

Henry Croft (pictured left) is currently England’s top goalscorer with 4 goals to his name so far. www.englandhockey.co.uk

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DISCOVER ADVENTURE in Lee Valley Regional Park

From hockey and tennis to White Water Rafting and Track Cycling experiences - choose from these and hundreds of other great days out.

Find out more at visitleevalley.org.uk

QUICK FIRE FACT: The highest scoring match so far was 7-3 between The Netherlands and Pakistan.

The biggest winning margin is Argentina’s 8-0 defeat of India.

67!

So far, 6 women’s game have had to be settled by a shootout, and 7 men’s games have used this nailbiting one-on-one contest as a decider.

OLYMPICS

The winners of Season 7 (25/26) and Season 8 (26/27) of the FIH Pro League will qualify directly for the 2028 Olympic Games.

CARDS GIVEN There have been 81 cards shown during the Women’s Pro League so far...

66 Green 14 Yellow 01 Red

CARDS GIVEN There have been 76 cards shown during the Men’s Pro League so far...

66 Green 10 Yellow 00 Red

QUICK FIRE FACT: Argentina have the tightest defence on display in London and to date, have not conceded more than one goal in a single game. www.englandhockey.co.uk

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THE ACTION SO FAR...

CLICK OR SCAN FOR ALL THE

RESULTS SO FAR

In the women’s FIH Hockey Pro League...

Argentina Argentina arrive in London in excellent form, sitting third in the standings with 17 points from eight matches and just one defeat so far. Their campaign began strongly in Santiago del Estero, where they edged Germany 1-0 and later earned a shootout win after a 1-1 draw. Against the Netherlands, they suffered their only loss – a 4-0 defeat – but responded with a disciplined 0-0 losing draw in the return fixture.

Their meetings with Ireland saw six points – a 5-0 win followed by a composed 2-1 victory. In Hobart, Argentina continued their momentum with two controlled performances against Australia, winning 1-0 and 3-0 to consolidate their top‑three position.

With 13 goals scored and just six conceded, Argentina have been one of the league’s most defensively solid teams.

Agustina Gorzelany leads their scoring with five goals, while captain María Granatto, Victoria Granatto, Brisa Bruggesser, Lara Casas, Zoe Díaz and Eugenia Trinchinetti have all contributed.

Las Leonas now head into the European stages with confidence. Their blend of structure, set‑piece threat and attacking depth positions them firmly among the contenders as the season moves towards its finalé.

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Australia Australia’s campaign has been a demanding one, with the Hockeyroos sitting eighth in the standings after eight matches and still searching for their first outright win. Their season began in Hobart, where a 0-0 draw with Ireland delivered a shootout victory, but defeats to Argentina (0-1) and Ireland (1-4) quickly showed the challenge ahead.

China proved a difficult opponent, with Australia falling 3-1 in both fixtures, and Spain added further pressure with a 4-1 defeat. The Hockeyroos showed character in their second meeting with Spain, drawing 2-2 before losing out in the shootout, but a 3-1 defeat to China rounded off a tough February block.

With six goals scored and 20 conceded, Australia have struggled to generate Tessa Howard drives forward against Australia in last year’s Pro League encounter.

(C) worldsportpics.com/Frank Uijlenbroek

sustained attacking threat while having a lot thrown at their defence. Hannah Cullum‑Sanders, Olivia Downes, Lexie Pickering, Lucy Sharman and Georgina West are among their scorers, but the side has yet to find any real fluency in the circle.

Despite the results, Australia remain competitive in phases and have shown resilience in tight matches. With upcoming fixtures against Germany and England in London, the Hockeyroos will be aiming to rediscover their structure, sharpen their penalty corner output, and build momentum heading into the final stages of the season.

England England reach the London stage looking to reset their campaign after a challenging opening eight matches that have brought just two wins and seven points. Their season began in Dublin, where a 3-0 defeat to Belgium was followed by a 1-1 draw with Ireland, ending in a narrow shootout loss. They responded well in the return fixture, beating Ireland 2-1, but another defeat to Belgium left them with just one win from their opening block.

www.englandhockey.co.uk

China and the Netherlands provided the opposition in February, and England showed signs of progress. A tight 3-2 loss to China was followed by a composed 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture – one of their strongest performances to date. Against the world‑leading Dutch, England battled hard but fell to 3-0 and 3-1 defeats.

With nine goals scored and 16 conceded, England have been competitive in spells but inconsistent across full matches. Tessa Howard leads their scoring with four goals, while Darcy Bourne and Elena Rayer have also contributed. As they return home to Lee Valley, England sit sixth in the standings and know that momentum is still within reach – but they will need to be sharper in both circles to climb the table in front of a partisan crowd.

GERMANY Germany arrive in London searching for their first win of the campaign after a difficult start that has left them ninth in the standings with two points from eight matches. Their opening fixtures in Argentina and the Netherlands set the tone – a 0-2 loss to the Dutch was followed by a 1-5 defeat in the return, while Belgium also proved clinical ending with 3-1 and 1-0 victories against the Germans.

Against Argentina, Germany were competitive but edged out 1-0 before earning a point in a 1-1 draw, only to fall short in the shootout. Their meetings with Spain followed a similar pattern – a 1-1 draw settled by a shootout defeat, then a 3-1 loss in Valencia.

With five goals scored and 17 conceded, Germany have struggled to convert chances and to contain the league’s more fluent attacking sides. Jette Fleschütz, Katharina Haid, Lena Micheel and captain Lisa Nolte are among their scorers, but the team has yet to find sustained attacking rhythm.

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Despite the results, Germany have shown resilience in tight matches and remain capable of turning performances into points. With two fixtures against England in London, followed by a busy run in Berlin, they have opportunities ahead – but they will need a sharper edge to climb off the bottom of the table.

Spain Spain enter the London block in a strong position, sitting fifth with 14 points from eight matches and showing a blend of attacking flair and defensive grit. Their season opened with mixed results in Valencia, where a 5-3 defeat to Belgium was followed by a composed 1-0 win in the reverse fixture.

The showed fantastic form in India, producing four consecutive victories – two against Germany (a shootout win after a 1-1 draw, then a 3-1 triumph) and two against India, including a thrilling 4-3 win and a disciplined 1-0 performance. These results propelled them up the table and showcased their growing confidence.

February brought a tougher run. A 3-0 defeat to China was followed by a 2-2 draw settled by a shootout loss, while their meetings with Australia resulted in a convincing 4-1 win and a 2-2 draw decided by a shootout victory.

With 16 goals scored and 15 conceded, Spain have been one of the league’s more balanced sides. Patricia Álvarez leads their scoring with five goals, supported by contributions from Laura Bosch, Candela Mejías, Sofia Rogoski and captain Xantal Giné.

Spain now look ahead to fixtures in Rotterdam and London, well placed to push for a top‑four finish. www.englandhockey.co.uk

In the men’s FIH Hockey Pro League...

Australia Australia arrive in London in excellent form, sitting second with 21 points from eight matches and showing the blend of physicality, structure and finishing that has long defined the Kookaburras. Their campaign began in Hobart with a 3-2 win over Pakistan, followed by a 3-0 victory over Germany and another 3-0 win over Pakistan.

A 3-2 win over Germany and a 3-1 victory over Spain kept their momentum rolling, and although India pushed them close – drawing 2-2 before Australia won the shootout – the Kookaburras remained consistent. They closed the block with a 3-0 win over Spain and a 1-1 draw with India, losing the shootout.

With 21 goals scored and only 8 conceded, Australia have been one of the league’s most successful teams. Joel Rintala, Jack Welch and Blake Govers lead their scoring, supported by Tim Brand and Jeremy Hayward.

Their defensive record is the second‑best in the competition, and their penalty corner routines remain a major weapon. With England and Argentina awaiting in London, Australia are well placed to challenge Belgium at the top of the table.

ARGENTINA Argentina reach London in third place with 17 points from eight matches, built on a campaign of high‑scoring wins and strong set‑piece finishes. Their season began in Santiago del Estero with a shootout win over the Netherlands after a 1-1 draw, followed by

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England’s Henry Croft celebrates at last season’s Pro League in London. He is the country’s highest goalscorer coming into this block...can he add to his tally?

(C) worldsportpics. com/Frank Uijlenbroek

a 3-2 victory over Pakistan.

A 3-2 win over the Dutch and a 5-1 triumph over Pakistan underlined their early momentum.

Their February block was more mixed. A 5-3 defeat to Belgium was followed by a heavy 8-0 win over India – the biggest scoreline of the season so far – before a 5-2 loss to Belgium and a 4-2 win over India.

With 29 goals scored, Argentina are the league’s most prolific attacking side to date. Tomás Domene leads the entire competition with 12 goals, while Nicolás della Torre, Bautista Capurro, Maico Casella, Tadeo Marcucci and Lucio Méndez have all contributed.

Defensively, they have conceded 18, but their attacking threat – particularly from corners – has kept them consistently competitive. As they prepare for matches against England and Australia in London, Argentina remain one of the most dangerous sides in the league.

ENGLAND England arrive at the London stage in a strong position, sitting fifth with 15 points from eight matches

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and showing clear signs of growth as the season has progressed. Their campaign began in Dublin with a 4-1 defeat to Germany, but they responded superbly in the reverse fixture, producing a composed and clinical 4-1 win.

A 2-2 draw with Belgium delivered a shootout victory, though Belgium edged the return fixture 3-2. England’s form then lifted significantly in Valencia, where they put together one of the most impressive runs of the season. A 2-2 draw with the Netherlands was followed by a confident 3-1 shootout win, and they backed it up with a 3-1 victory over Spain. England repeated the feat against the Dutch in the second meeting – another 2-2 draw, another shootout win – before closing the block with a convincing 4-2 win over Spain.

With 20 goals scored and 17 conceded, England have been competitive in every match since their opening weekend. Henry Croft leads their scoring with four goals, supported

by Nick Bandurak, Sam Ward and Sam Hooper, while their perfect shootout record (three from three) has been valuable.

As they return home to Lee Valley for fixtures against Argentina, Australia, Pakistan and India, England remain firmly in the mix and well placed to push for a top‑four finish.

INDIA India arrive in London in eighth place with four points from eight matches, having endured a challenging start to their campaign. Their season began with back‑to‑back defeats to Belgium (1-3, 2-4), and heavy losses to Argentina (0-8, 2-4). Against Australia, India showed improvement, drawing 2-2 before losing the shootout, and drawing 1-1 in the reverse fixture, winning the shootout.

Their meetings with Spain were competitive.

A 2-0 defeat followed by a 1-1 draw settled by a shootout loss. India’s defensive structure has been tested throughout, conceding 25 goals, www.englandhockey.co.uk

while scoring nine.

Shilanand Lakra and Aditya Lalage lead their scoring with two goals each, while Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh and Maninder Singh have also contributed.

India have shown resilience in tight matches and improved control in midfield, but will need greater consistency in both circles to climb the table. With fixtures against England, Pakistan and the Netherlands ahead, they have opportunities to build momentum in the second half of the season.

PAKISTAN Pakistan’s return to the Pro League has been a demanding one, with the team sitting ninth after eight matches and still searching for their first points. Their campaign opened in Santiago del Estero, where they were beaten 2-5 and 3-7 by the Netherlands, followed by narrow defeats to Argentina (2-3) and a heavier 5-1 loss in the reverse fixture.

In Hobart, Pakistan showed attacking promise in a 3-2 defeat to Australia, but Germany proved clinical in a 5-2 win. Belgium then added further pressure with back‑to‑back victories (5-2 and 5-1), rounding off a challenging opening block for the young side.

With 13 goals scored and 37 conceded, Pakistan have shown flashes of quality in open play – particularly through Sufyan Khan, who leads their scoring with five goals – but have struggled to contain the league’s most experienced attacking units. Their penalty corner defence has been heavily tested, and their inexperience at this level has been evident in key moments.

Pakistan now look ahead to their European stages, including fixtures against Spain, England and India, where they will aim to tighten defensively and convert more of the chances they are creating.

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OFFICIALS BLOCK 3

BLOCK 4

Match Manager

Match Manager

Sabrina Zampetti

Lorena Rinaldini

Umpires

Umpires

Ayden Shrives, Paul Van Den Assum, Lisette Baljon, Lorjin De Kraker, Ivona Makar, Alison Keogh

Coen Van Bunge, Hong Zhen Lim, Sarah Wilson, Magail Sergeant, Sophie Brocklemann, Junko Wagatsuma

Umpire Manager

Umpire Manager

Ged Curran

Jean Duncan

Judges

Judges

David Ellcock, Jenny Hollman, Howard Pollard, Sue Bendelow, Annie Hairsine, Stephen Limbert-Mason, Karen Daffey, Jane Rickey

Karen Daffey, Jane Rickey, Pritpal Sagoo, Harry Stickland, Ben Redwood, Bev Deakin

www.englandhockey.co.uk

23

TO TAKE READY ON THE WORLD...

This August, the world’s top hockey nations will gather in Belgium and the Netherlands for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, the sport’s most prestigious global tournament.

Running from 15th to 30th August, the event brings together 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams, each aiming to get through the group stage, progress through the knockouts, and ultimately contest the medal matches at the end of the month.

Both competitions follow a familiar structure. Teams begin with three group‑stage fixtures, with the top two teams in each of the four pools creating Pools E and F where further cross-over matches will be played. The top two in Pools E and F will then contest the semi-finals, and the bottom two will contest places 5-8. The teams finishing in the bottom two of Pools A-C will create Pools G and H which will ultimately determine who finishes in places 8-16, so a top two finish in the first round of fixtures is vital for afamny country with medal ambitions.

24

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(World Rankings shown in brackets)

For England’s men, the World Cup marks another opportunity to build on recent progress.

After finishing fifth at the 2023 edition in India, they arrive with a squad that has gained valuable experience across Pro League campaigns and major tournaments. Their schedule in Amstelveen sees them play against India and Pakistan, both of whom they will face in Pro League Block 4, and the familiar foe of Wales. A top-two finish is certainly possible.

England’s women return to a stage they know well, having also competed in the last World Cup in Amstelveen in 2022, where they finished eighth. With the tournament once again hosted in the Netherlands, although this time jointly with Belgium, they will look to draw on that experience as they take on a varied set of opponents across their opening fixtures. A top two finish in Pool D is certainly within their reach if they play as they can.

The Netherlands enter the women’s tournament as defending champions, while Germany arrive as reigning men’s world champions following their dramatic triumph in 2023. Traditional powerhouses such as Argentina, Australia and Belgium are also ones to watch, ensuring a high level of competition from the opening whistle to the final weekend. With two nations steeped in hockey tradition acting as hosts, supporters can expect strong crowds, familiar rivalries and a tournament environment that showcases the sport at its best.

The 2026 World Cup promises a full fortnight of top‑level international action. Whether following from home or travelling to the venues, supporters can look forward to England’s men and women stepping onto the world stage ready for the challenge ahead – and ready to take on the world.

ENG Men’s POOL STAGE: A: ARG (5), JPN (15), NED (1), NZL (11) B: BEL (2), FRA (10), GER (6), MAL (14) C: AUS (3), IRL (9), RSA (13), ESP (7) D: ENG (4), IND (8), PAK (12), WAL (16) 15 August, 19:00 England vs Pakistan 17 August, 15:00 India vs England 19 August, 12:30 England vs Wales 21-30 August, Classification Matches

ENG WOMen’s POOL STAGE: A: AUS (8), CHL (11), JPN (15), NED (1) B: ARG (2), GER (7), SCO (14), USA (12) C: BEL (3), IRL (13), NZL (10), ESP (5) D: CHN (4), ENG (6), IND (9), RSA (19) 16 August, 10:00 England vs South Africa 18 August, 12:30 England vs China 20 August, 15:00 India vs England 21-30 August, Classification Matches CLICK FOR THE

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

FIND OUT MORE AT worldcup.hockey www.englandhockey.co.uk

All times are BST

25

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EuroHockey Returns to England for a Landmark Summer in 2027 England Hockey, backed by UK Sport, has secured the rights to host the EuroHockey Championships in summer 2027 marking the return of hockey’s biggest European event to home soil for the first time since 2015.

Following previous editions in Manchester (2007) and London (2015), the 2027 tournament promises to be the most ambitious yet. For the first time in history, both the men’s and women’s

competitions will expand from eight to twelve nations – bringing more teams, more talent, and more top-class hockey to English fans.

Two Venues. One Unforgettable Experience.

The preliminary rounds of the competition will take place at the iconic Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, with the semifinals and finals part of a show-stopping experience known as Big Stadium Hockey – with the exact venue to be confirmed.

What is Big Stadium Hockey?

Big Stadium Hockey is a revolutionary concept that enables elite-level hockey matches to be played in major sporting arenas not traditionally designed for the sport.

First trialled at the Twickenham Stoop in 2019,

The Twickenham Stoop was transformed from rugby ground to hockey stadium with ‘Big Stadium Hockey’ in 2019 and the stadium will be bigger and better when it’s hosting the EuroHockey semi-finals and final in 2027.

this award-winning pioneering project sees a temporary, international-standard hockey pitches installed over existing stadium turf. That year, Great Britain’s men and women played in front of a packed house – the largest hockey crowd in the UK since London 2012 – creating an electric atmosphere and an unforgettable spectacle.

in collaboration with Special Olympics, Virtus, and the International Paralympic Committee, the ID Championships are a celebration of inclusivity, representation, and opportunity in sport. In 2023, England claimed a silver medal in the final against Germany, and they’ll be looking to go one better in 2027 on home soil.

Inclusion on the International Stage

The EuroHockey Championships 2027 will be a celebration of worldclass sport, innovation, and inclusivity.

As part of the 2027 Championships, England will also proudly host the EuroHockey ID Championships – a biennial international tournament for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Organised by EuroHockey www.englandhockey.co.uk

A Summer to Remember

With bigger line-ups, trailblazing stadium technology, and the best European teams on display, England is ready to deliver a hockey summer like no other.

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England men England Men arrive in London with a season that has already taken them through contrasting phases – a difficult European summer, an outstanding World Cup Qualifier, and a Pro League campaign that still has plenty of potential.

Ranked fourth in the world, they remain firmly among the sport’s leading nations, but the past year has required resilience and a willingness to adjust.

Their 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Ismailia was the clearest sign of what this group can produce when they find their rhythm. England were in control from the outset, putting together a group stage that set the tone for the week – a 5-0 win over Japan, a 3-0 victory against hosts Egypt, and maximum points after the withdrawal of the United States. They didn’t concede a goal in the group and carried that authority into the knockout stage.

The semi‑final brought one of their most convincing performances in recent years, a 7-1 win over Malaysia that showcased their tempo, accuracy and confidence in the attacking third. In the final, England faced Pakistan and completed the job with a 4-1 victory, with goals from Henry Croft, a Sam Hooper penalty‑corner double, and a late finish from Ben Fox. It was a composed, professional display that secured World Cup qualification with hard work and relative

30

ease. Midfielder Tom Sorsby was named Player of the Tournament, recognition of his performances throughout the week.

That success followed a disappointing EuroHockey Nations Championship last summer, where England finished sixth, uncomfortably close to the ‘relegation’ line.

The contrast between that campaign and the assuredness shown at the qualifier is great to see, and hopefully provides confidence.

In the current FIH Hockey Pro League, England sit fifth. They have taken points from top‑ranked sides and shown resilience in difficult moments, but they know there is more to come. With the table tightly packed behind the leading four, this home block arrives at a valuable time, providing a chance to climb the table and build momentum as they approach the World Cup in August. A home crowd will provide welcome encouragement as they look to find success.

Under head coach Zac Jones, England continue to refine their approach. The squad blends established internationals with players who have grown through recent cycles, giving the group a balance of experience and energy.

With a home crowd behind them, England enter this block with purpose – to sharpen their performances, gather momentum and reassert themselves among the world’s best.

www.fih.hockey/events/fih-pro-league

Tom Sorsby was the Player of the Tournament for England at the World Cup Qualfiers. Can he have a similar influence in this Pro League Block? © WORLDSPORTPICS Will Palmer

www.englandhockey.co.uk

31

INTRODUCING VISITING N BLOCK THREE

ARGENTINA

AUSTRALIA

WORLD #5

WORLD #3

Argentina have been a consistently competitive presence in the international game for many years.

Ranked fifth in the world, Los Leones continue to build on a strong modern era that includes Olympic gold in 2016 and World Cup silver in 2023, two results that underline their ability to perform on the biggest stage.

Their squad features a core of experienced internationals who have played key roles across recent major tournaments, supported by players gaining further exposure through the Pro League.

With a group that has delivered significant results in recent years, Argentina enter the London stage aiming to build momentum as they near the World Cup, and reinforce their position inside the world’s top five.

Australia arrive in fine form, having climbed from sixth to third in the world rankings since the last London stage in 2025.

The Kookaburras have a long record of success at the highest level, including three World Cup titles, two Pro League titles (including the inaugural title in 2019) and an impressive run of Olympic medals across multiple cycles, including gold in 2004. In fact, 2016 and 2024 are the only times they have not medalled in the Olympics since 1992.

With the exception of 1998 and 2023, they have won a World Cup medal at every tournament since 1978, and these Pro League matches are vital in their preparation to return to the podium when August arrives and Argentina and Australia are set to meet in the World Cup they will prove to be pool stage in August, making this Pro League encounter a an exciting watch. genuine preview of a high‑stakes summer showdown.

FIXTURE WATCH...

G YOUR MEN’S NATIONS BLOCK FOUR

INDIA

PAKISTAN

WORLD #8

WORLD #12

India remain one of the most historically significant teams in world hockey, with eight Olympic gold medals and a period of dominance from the 1920s to the 1950s that shaped the sport’s early international era.

Their major honours also include World Cup gold in 1975, silver in 1973, and bronze in 2023, reflecting a record that spans multiple generations of the game.

In the modern era, India continue to compete at the highest level but without the sustained dominance of their early decades They have returned to the Olympic podium with bronze medals in 2020 and 2024, their first since gold in 1980, and remain a consistent presence in global tournaments.

India are currently ranked eighth in the world, having been ninth when they last appeared in London, and continue to build on a longestablished hockey tradition that remains central to the sport’s global landscape.

This year is Pakistan’s first appearance in the FIH Hockey Pro League, and they arrive in London eager to secure their first points of the season.

Historically, Pakistan have an impressive record with a record that includes four World Cup titles (the most of any nation) and three Olympic gold medals, achievements that showed their status as a dominant force from the 1960s through to the late 1980s.

In the modern era, Pakistan have not matched the sustained success of earlier decades, although were World No.1 in 2000 and 2001. They have not qualified for the Olympic Games since 2012 when they finished 7th, so regular high quality competition in the FIH Hockey Pro League will be a welcome opportunity to sharpen their skills amongst the world’s elite.

They are currently ranked 12th in the world and continue to work towards re‑establishing themselves among the sport’s leading nations.

FIXTURE WATCH...

A standout block for London hockey fans: England, India and Pakistan will all line up together in Pool D at the World Cup. What you see here is the first glimpse of contests that will carry real weight in August.

36

www.fih.hockey/events/fih-pro-league

England Women England Women return to London at an important moment in their development, with a squad that has shown flashes of real quality but is still searching for the consistency needed to re‑establish itself among the world’s top sides. The past year has been one of mixed results, reflection and rebuilding – and these Pro League blocks offer another opportunity to take steps forward. They will take to the stage this year as the world’s number 6 ranked team, two places higher than this time last year.

England’s recent World Cup Qualifier campaign was a real high point. They played with control, purpose and a sharper edge, producing their best hockey in recent times.

The final against India was their strongest performance of the week, combining defensive discipline with a more confident attacking shape. It was also a break through moment for several younger squad members, highlighted by Martha Taylor being named Young Player of the Tournament – recognition of her impact and consistency. The campaign didn’t just secure England’s place at the 2026 World Cup – it restored a sense of momentum.

That success came after a difficult spell, with England finishing fifth at the EuroHockey Nations Championship and enduring a frustrating Pro League campaign before that. And while this season has shown signs of improvement, England arrive in London sitting sixth in the current Pro League table, a position that leaves them needing a lift. A www.englandhockey.co.uk

home block offers exactly that opportunity – the chance to gather momentum, tighten performances and turn narrow margins into points with the backing of a London crowd.

The 2024-25 FIH Hockey Pro League was particularly challenging. England finished eighth, only narrowly avoiding relegation, and struggled to find fluency across the league. But the season also exposed younger players to sustained top‑level competition and the group that returns to London is more experienced, more settled and better balanced than the one that began last year’s campaign.

Under head coach David Ralph, England continue to evolve. The squad blends established internationals – including Lily Owsley, Anna Toman and Grace Balsdon – with a growing cohort of players who have stepped confidently into senior roles.

These London blocks arrive at a useful moment. England have secured their World Cup place, taken meaningful lessons from last year’s difficult Pro League season, and shown in the qualifier that they can deliver when the pressure is on. They are not yet the finished article, but they are moving forward with a clearer understanding of what it will take to compete at the highest level.

With home support behind them and a significant summer ahead, England step into these blocks with determination and the opportunity to build momentum when it matters most.

37

INTRODUCING YOUR VISITING N BLOCK THREE

AUSTRALIA

GERMANY

WORLD #8

WORLD #7

Australia remain one of the most successful teams in women’s hockey, with a record that includes three Olympic gold medals, two World Cup titles, and a long history of competing at the sharp end of major tournaments.

Their sustained presence among the sport’s leading nations has been a defining feature of the modern international game.

Last season they arrived in London ranked fifth, but come into this year’s competition at eighth, reflecting a period of mixed results across recent cycles.

Even so, Australia’s history shows that rankings rarely tell the full story.

The Hockeyroos have built a reputation for delivering on big stages, and they remain a side that no opponent will take lightly.

Germany have been one of Europe’s most consistent forces in women’s hockey, with a record that spans all eras.

Their honours include Olympic gold in 2004, World Cup titles in 1976 and 1981, and a long run of strong European Championship performances, featuring gold in 2007 and multiple podium finishes across the past three decades. Their teams have traditionally been built on organisation, discipline and tactical nous – qualities that have kept them competitive at the highest level.

Germany arrive in London ranked seventh, showing a side that remains firmly within the world’s top tier, and as ever, they come into this block as a team capable of challenging any opponent and shaping the rhythm of the competition.

Kaitlin Nobbs (C) of Australia passes the ball at last season’s Pro League in London. © WORLDSPORTPICS Will Palmer

YOUR WOMEN’S NATIONS BLOCK FOUR

ARGENTINA

SPAIN

WORLD #2

WORLD #5

Known globally as Las Leonas, Argentina are one of the most successful and recognisable teams in women’s hockey.

Their rise to international prominence was cemented at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where the lioness emblem and nickname were born – symbols that have since become woven into the country’s sporting identity. Argentina were the first women’s team from the nation to win an Olympic medal in any sport, and their record now includes four Olympic medals, most recently silver in 2020 and 2024, alongside two World Cup titles and a long list of podium finishes across major tournaments.

Las Leonas arrive in London as the highest‑ranked team on show, sitting second in the world, and continue to set the standard for consistency at the top level.

Argentina come into this block as genuine contenders in every competition they enter – and one of the most exciting teams for fans to watch.

Spain have long been one of the sport’s most respected and technically accomplished sides, with a history that includes Olympic gold on home soil in Barcelona in 1992, a defining moment for the women’s game in the country.

Their major honours also feature World Cup bronze in 2018 and a series of strong European Championship performances, including silver medals in 1995, 2003 and 2019, plus bronze later in 2019. Across the past three decades they have been consistent qualifiers for World Cups and EuroHockey Championships, reaching nine continental semi‑finals and establishing themselves as regular contenders.

Spain arrived in London last year ranked seventh, but come into this season ranked fifth, reflecting a period of steady progress and competitive results.

With a blend of experienced internationals and emerging talent, Spain continue to challenge the world’s best and arrive in London as a team firmly on the rise.

BLOCKS 3 & 4 ENGLAND TEAMS MEN WOMEN No

Player

Caps

No

Player

2

Nick PARK

49

2

Darcy BOURNE

Caps 38

3

Jack WALLER

72

3

Becky MANTON

19

5

Tom SORSBY

67

4

Lily WALKER

63

7

Zach WALLACE

75

6

Anna TOMAN

91

9

Henry CROFT

18

8

Pippa LOCK

13

13

Sam WARD

124

10

Amy THOMPSON

7

14

James ALBERY

67

11

Holly HUNT

49

15

Phil ROPER

133

13

Ellie RAYER

96

16

James MAZARELO (GK)

38

14

Tess HOWARD

59

17

Stuart RUSHMERE

51

18

Katie CURTIS

26

18

Tim NURSE

35

19

Olivia HAMILTON

37

19

David GOODFIELD

95

21

Fiona CRACKLES

63

20

Oli PAYNE (GK)

48

22

Lizzy NEAL

54

23

Nick BANDURAK

40

23

Sophie HAMILTON

61

26

James GALL

94

25

Sabbie HEESH (GK)

41

27

Liam SANFORD

85

26

Lily OWSLEY

144

30

Conor WILLIAMSON

38

28

Flora PEEL

57

31

Will CALNAN

71

30

Martha TAYLOR

41

33

Sam HOOPER

24

31

Grace BALSDON

103

46

Sam TAYLOR

20

39

Alice ATKINSON

12

47

Ben FOX

26

40

Miriam PRITCHARD (GK)

22

53

Max ANDERSON

0

44

Lottie BINGHAM

16

HEAD COACH Zak JONES

HEAD COACH David RALPH

MANAGER Paul GANNON

MANAGER Sam BEVERIDGE

www.englandhockey.co.uk

41

BLOCK 3 MEN’S VISITING TEAMS ARGENTINA AUSTRALIA No

Player

Caps

No

Player

Caps

1

Tomas SANTIAGO (GK)

110

1

Lachlan SHARP

115

5

Facundo ZARATE

43

2

Tom CRAIG

161

8

Tobias MARTINS

38

5

Cooper BURNS

21

10

Nicolas della TORRE

139

6

Anand GUPTE

27

11

Lucas TOSCANI

85

7

Nathan EPHRAUMS

99

12

Nehuen HERNANDO (GK)

17

9

Liam HENDERSON

18

16

Joaquin TOSCANI

28

10

Joshua BELTZ

133

17

Santiago TARAZONA

138

12

Jed SNOWDEN (GK)

21

18

Facundo SARTO

12

15

Jayden ATKINSON

30

19

Lautaro DOMENE

3

16

Tim HOWARD

162

20

Matias ANDREOTTI

16

19

Craig MARAIS

40

21

Tomas DOMENE

108

20

Ky WILLOTT

80

22

Matias REY (C)

319

21

Jack WELCH

62

23

Lucas MARTINEZ

161

23

Hayden BELTZ

28

26

Nicolas CICILEO

122

24

Cambell GEDDES

14

27

Tadeo MARCUCCI

66

25

Nathan CZINNER

23

28

Ignacio IBARRA

21

26

James COLLINS

48

29

Thomas HABIF

109

27

Joel RINTALA

17

31

Bautista CAPURRO

57

28

Ashleigh THOMAS (GK)

22

32

Martin FERREIRO

92

29

Tim BRAND

124

33

Lucio MENDEZ

30

30

Davis ATKIN

22

38

Agustin BONANNO

11

32

Jeremy HAYWARD

253

HEAD COACH Lucas Rey

HEAD COACH Mark HAGER

MANAGER Javier Blanco

MANAGER Melissa Grey

42

www.fih.hockey/events/fih-pro-league

BLOCK 3 WOMEN’S VISITING TEAMS GERMANY AUSTRALIA No

Player

Caps

No

Player

2

Jule BLEUEL

31

1

Claire COLWILL

Caps

4

Lena FRERICHS

30

3

Morgan MATHISON

25

7

Linnea WEIDEMANN (C)

80

4

Amy LAWTON

104

86

8

Sophia SCHWABE

31

5

Grace YOUNG

59

10

Lisa NOLTE (C)

75

6

Sarah BYRNES

9

12

Ines WANNER

21

10

Abigail WILSON

33

14

Lucina von der HEYDE

105

11

Alice ARNOTT

40

15

Nathalie KUBALSKI (GK)

79

14

Stephanie KERSHAW

131

16

Sonja ZIMMERMANN

124

15

Kaitlin NOBBS (C)

165

17

Lynn KRINGS

15

16

Courtney SCHONELL

46

18

Lilly STOFFELSMA

44

17

Lucy SHARMAN

39

19

Finja STARCK (GK)

14

18

Alana KAVANAGH

28

21

Sara STRAUSS

50

19

Jocelyn BARTRAM (GK)

125

23

Emma DAVIDSMEYER

66

20

Karri SOMERVILLE

83

25

Johanna HACHENBERG

25

22

Tatum STEWART

52

26

Felicia WIEDERMANN

54

23

Olivia DOWNES

11

27

Stine KURZ

58

24

Mariah WILLIAMS

159

28

Jette FLESCHÜTZ

88

25

Zoe NEWMAN (GK)

27

33

Julia HEMMERLE

15

28

Hannah CULLUM-SANDERS

27

38

Friederike HEUSGEN

0

30

Grace STEWART (C)

150

55

Emilia LANDSHUT

19

31

Neasa FLYNN

8

77

Yani ZHONG

9

35

Sophie MURPHY

41

HEAD COACH Janneke SCHOPMAN

HEAD COACH Rhett Halkett

MANAGER Fabian SCHULER

MANAGER Melissa Grey

www.englandhockey.co.uk

43

BLOCK 4 MEN’S VISITING TEAMS INDIA PAKISTAN No

Player

Caps

2 4 5 7 8 11 13 17 18 19 25 27 29 30 31 32 34 38 47 50 70 77 78 99

Dilpreet SINGH Jarmanpreet SINGH Abhishek Manpreet SINGH Hardik SINGH Mandeep SINGH Harmanpreet SINGH (C) Sumit Nilakanta SHARMA Aditya Arjun LALAGE Raj Kumar PAL M H SHASHIKUMAR (GK) Rabichandra MOIRANGTHEM Amit ROHIDAS Jugraj SINGH Vivek Sagar PRASAD Sukhjeet SINGH Amandeep LAKRA Yashdeep SIWACH Karthi SELVAM Sanjay Suraj KARKERA (GK) Rajinder SINGH Shilanand LAKRA

115 151 127 411 174 281 258 172 153 8 89 9 25 239 97 189 117 3 28 35 85 82 37 61

No 1 2 3 3 5 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 21 22 23 27 31 32 35 56 99

Player Abdullah Ishtiaq KHAN (GK) Muhammad ABDULLAH Arbaz AHMAD Mubashar ALI Sufyan KHAN Moin SHAKEEL Waheed Ashraf RANA Hannan SHAHID Zikriya HAYAT Arshad LIAQAT Usama BASHIR Ahmad NADEEM Ghazanfar ALI Ammad BUTT (C) Muhammad HAMMADUDIN Rehman ABDUL Afraz Waleed RANA Umair SATTAR Abu MAHMOOD Ali RAZA (GK) Abdul MANAN Muhammad AMMAD Muneeb UR‑REHMAN (GK) Junaid MANZOOR

HEAD COACH Craig FULTON

HEAD COACH Manzoor MANZOOR -UL-HASSAN

MANAGER Shivendra SINGH

MANAGER Muhammed USMAN

44

Caps 47 73 28 56 69 66 89 62 56 67 34 41 66 185 45 41 58 14 7 104 9 26 25 26 31

www.fih.hockey/events/fih-pro-league

BLOCK 4 WOMEN’S VISITING TEAMS SPAIN ARGENTINA No 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 28 29 30 31

Player Laura BRUGUERA Laura BOSCH Berta SERRAHIMA Clara BADIA Florencia AMUNDSON Lucia JIMENEZ (C) Teresa LIMA Patricia ALVAREZ Marta SEGU (C) Constanza AMUNDSON Blanca PÉREZ María GESTÍ Candela MEJIAS Berta AGULLÓ Mireia HERRERO Xantal GINE (C) Jone ALBA Laia VIDOSA Ivet MARTI Clara PEREZ (GK) Maria TELLO (GK) Paula JIMÉNEZ Sofia ROGOSKI Sofía KEENAN

Caps 2 20 24 43 42 214 17 74 148 74 20 4 92 29 3 230 15 66 2 59 20 26 17 3

No

Player

Caps

2

Sofia TOCCALINO

206

3

Agustina GORZELANY

152

4

Valentina RAPOSO

87

5

Agostina ALONSO (C)

192

10

Maria GRANATTO (C)

246

13

Cristina COSENTINO (GK)

71

18

Victoria SAUZE

168

20

Sofia CAIRO

57

21

Victoria GRANATTO

72

22

Eugenia TRINCHINETTI

214

23

Lara CASAS

23

25

Juana CASTELLARO

51

28

Julieta JANKUNAS

205

29

Victoria MIRANDA

44

33

Zoe DIAZ

37

40

Mercedes ARTOLA (GK)

5

42

Victoria FALASCO

14

43

Emma KNOBL

5

45

Catalina ANDRADE

23

46

Lourdes PISTHON

9

60

Brisa BRUGGESSER

24

64

Milagros ALASTRA

3

HEAD COACH Carlos GARCIA cuenca

HEAD COACH Fernando FERRARA

MANAGER Raul GOMEZ

MANAGER Martin ELLI

www.englandhockey.co.uk

45

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