From 15 to 30 August, Belgium and the Netherlands will jointly host the Hockey World Cup. Wavre and Amsterdam are the two host cities of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. It is the first time that a world championship in an Olympic team sport will take place on Belgian soil. The Red Lions will face France on the tournament’s opening day on Saturday, while the Red Panthers take on New Zealand on Sunday. Nearly 100,000 tickets have already been sold for all World Cup matches in Wavre.
Over the next two weeks, the FIH Hockey World Cup will welcome 32 nations, 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams, to Belgium and the Netherlands. Fifty matches will be played at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre and fifty at the Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam. The women’s final will take place in Amsterdam on Saturday 29 August, while the men’s final will be held in Wavre on Sunday 30 August.
This Saturday, 15 August, the Red Lions will begin their quest for the world title in the Belfius Hockey Arena against France. The match gets underway at 9:00 PM. In the first pool stage, the Belgian men’s team will also face Germany (17 August, 8:30 PM) and Malaysia (19 August, 8:30 PM) in Wavre. The Red Panthers will play all their matches on home soil as well and are drawn in a pool with New Zealand (16 August, 5:30 PM), Spain (18 August, 8:30 PM) and Ireland (20 August, 8:30 PM). Following the first pool stage, there will be a second pool stage, followed by the semi-finals and finals.
Tickets
The Belgian teams will not be short of vocal support. Ticket sales have been exceptionally strong. Nearly 100,000 tickets have already been sold for matches in Wavre. Only a handful of tickets remain available for the matchdays on Saturday 15 August and Sunday 23 August. On these two days, as well as on 18 and 22 August, the Red Tribe will add even more atmosphere to the stands. The Red Tribe is the official supporters’ club of the Belgian Red Lions and Red Panthers, led by mascots Obelgix and Belgébut. This lively Belgian crowd will also bring its own brass band to the stadium.
Henri PFR & Public Plaza
The Red Lions’ opening match against France this Saturday will be preceded by a spectacular opening ceremony: a visual show featuring 80 dancers, lighting and laser effects, and an energetic performance by Henri PFR. Following the match, he will also kick off the afterparty in the Public Plaza at the Belfius Hockey Arena.
Throughout the tournament, hockey fans in the Public Plaza will be able to watch all matches on a giant screen and follow Daily Corner, the official FIH Hockey World Cup TV show. Hosted by Floris Geerts, the programme will feature national and international guests and provide daily previews and reviews of the tournament.
Of course, visitors to the Public Plaza will also be able to enjoy a wide range of food and drinks all day long. On most tournament days, the first match starts before noon and the final game runs into the evening. Various tournament partners will continuously entertain spectators with engaging activations, while children can enjoy extra fun in the Kid’s Zone, centred around the Audi Progress Pitch, where they can practise their hockey skills.
Mobility
Hockey fans travelling to Wavre by car must reserve a parking ticket in advance for one of the two public car parks. Shuttle buses will transport spectators to and from the Belfius Hockey Arena.
On matchdays, the area surrounding the stadium will be closed to motorised traffic. Only pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles with a special permit will be allowed access. Supporters can also reach Wavre by public transport, including train and bus services. More mobility information can be found here >>
“Ready to Welcome the World to Belgium”
Serge Pilet, CEO of the Royal Belgian Hockey Association: “In just a few days, years of preparation will become reality. Together with the KNHB, our clubs, volunteers, public authorities and countless committed stakeholders, we are ready to welcome the world to Belgium. This FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 will be much more than a sporting event. It showcases what our sport has become in Belgium and what we can achieve when an entire hockey community works towards a shared ambition. We look forward to offering every team, official and fan an outstanding experience, both on and off the pitch.”
When Do the Red Lions & Red Panthers Play?
Belgium Matches in Wavre
First Pool Stage:
- Saturday 15 August 2026, 9:00 PM (Men): Belgium vs France
- Sunday 16 August 2026, 5:30 PM (Women): Belgium vs New Zealand
- Monday 17 August 2026, 8:30 PM (Men): Belgium vs Germany
- Tuesday 18 August 2026, 8:30 PM (Women): Belgium vs Spain
- Wednesday 19 August 2026, 8:30 PM (Men): Belgium vs Malaysia
- Thursday 20 August 2026, 8:30 PM (Women): Belgium vs Ireland