Lausanne, June 10: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has announced an expansion of the Nations Cup and Nations Cup 2 as part of its empowerment and engagement strategy. Starting from the next edition, the tournament will feature 10 teams instead of 8.
The Nations Cup and Nations Cup 2 represent the second and third tiers of the FIH Pro League. The winner of the Nations Cup will qualify for the FIH Pro League in the following season.
Additionally, the Nations Cup 2, which was launched last year, will become an annual event starting in 2027. According to a statement released by the FIH on Wednesday, this change will provide teams at this level with consistent playing opportunities and simplify the qualification process by linking Nations Cup 2 with the Nations Cup and FIH Pro League.
FIH President Tayyab Ikram stated, “These decisions, made at my initiative, will advance our empowerment and engagement strategy. They will play a crucial role in creating equal opportunities for players and nations to participate, develop, and progress. I am particularly pleased for all the second and third-tier teams that previously lacked sufficient opportunities to test themselves in high-level tournaments before these events.”
The Nations Cup will be held for the fourth time, having established itself as a major event on the global hockey calendar for both players and fans.
The inaugural edition of Nations Cup 2 last year was highly successful, leading to strong demands from participating teams for it to be held annually. Changes have also been made to the qualification system accordingly.
The increase in the number of teams means that no team will be relegated from this year’s FIH Hockey Nations Cup. The men’s tournament will commence on Thursday in Cape Town, South Africa, while the women’s tournament will kick off in Auckland, New Zealand, on June 15.
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