The Men’s FIH HWC or FIH Hockey World Cup is an international field hockey event run by FIH or the International hockey federation. The event was started in 1971. It is held over four years, bridging the gap between the Summer Olympics. Pakistan is the most successful team and has won the event four times. Australia and Netherlands have won three titles, and Germany has won two titles. India and Belgium have won the event once.
About FIH Hockey World Cup
Sports Field Hockey
Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup
Inaugural season 1971
Founded 1971: 52 years ago
No of teams: 16
Most recent champions: Belgium 2018 (first title)
Continental International FIH
Official website 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup
Most titles Pakistan (Four titles)
History FIH Hockey World Cup
The HWC, or Hockey World Cup, was conceived by the Air Marshal of Pakistan, Nur Khan. Nur Khan came up with the idea for the FIH via Patrick Rowley, who is the first editor of WHM or World Hockey magazine.
Trophy
Hockey World Cup Trophy
It was well-designed by Bashir Moojid and developed by the Army of Pakistan. In Brussels on 27 March 1971, the trophy was handed formally to FIH president by H.E. Masood, the Ambassador of Pakistan to Belgium. The trophy includes a silver cup with an intricate design that is floral, surmounted by a globe in gold and silver, kept on a high blade base inlaid with ivory. At the peak, a model hockey ball and stick are present.
Format FIH Hockey World Cup
The World Cup Hockey includes a qualification stage and a final event stage. The format is the same for each stage.
Qualification
The stage qualification has been a part of the HWC or Hockey World Cup since 1977. All the teams who participate play in the qualification round. The team gets separated into two pools and competes for a berth in the final event. The top two teams are qualified automatically, and the rest of the berths are considered in playoffs.
The final event features the continental champions and qualified teams. At times, it also showcases the winners of the continental runners-up or Summer Olympics hockey competition. The teams get separated into pools once more and play a round-robin event. The pool composition is considered using the recent FIH rankings of the World.
Official Website for FIH Hockey World Cup
Summaries FIH Hockey World Cup
YearHostFinalThird place matchNumber of teams
WinnerScoreRunner-up third placeScoreFourth place
1971
Details Barcelona, Spain
Pakistan 1–0
Spain
India 2–1
after extra time
Kenya 10
1973
Details Amstelveen, Netherlands
Netherlands 2–2
(4–2)
penalty strokes
India
West Germany 1–0
Pakistan 12
1975
Details Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
India 2–1
Pakistan
West Germany 4–0
Malaysia 12
1978
Details Buenos Aires, Argentina
Pakistan 3–2
Netherlands
Australia 4–3
West Germany 14
1982
Details Bombay, India
Pakistan 3–1
West Germany
Australia 4–2
Netherlands 12
1986
Details London, England
Australia 2–1
England
West Germany 3–2
after extra time
Soviet Union 12
1990
Details Lahore, Pakistan
Netherlands 3–1
Pakistan
Australia 2–1
after extra time
West Germany 12
1994
Details Sydney, Australia
Pakistan 1–1
(4–3)
penalty strokes
Netherlands
Australia 5–2
Germany 12
1998
Details Utrecht, Netherlands
Netherlands 3–2
after extra time
Spain
Germany 1–0
Australia 12
2002
Details Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Germany 2–1
Australia
Netherlands 2–1
after extra time
South Korea 16
2006
Details Mönchengladbach, Germany
Germany 4–3
Australia
Spain 3–2
after extra time
South Korea 12
2010
Details New Delhi, India
Australia 2–1
Germany
Netherlands 4–3
England 12
2014
Details The Hague, Netherlands
Australia 6–1
Netherlands
Argentina 2–0
England 12
2018
Details Bhubaneswar, India
Belgium 0–0
(3–2)
penalty shootout
Netherlands
Australia 8–1
England 16
2023
Details Bhubaneswar & Rourkela, India 16
2026
Details Wavre, Belgium & Amstelveen, Netherlands 16
Performance by continental zones
The finals of the HWC, or hockey world cup, have been contested by European, Oceania, and Asian continental teams. European teams have won six titles, followed by five titles from Asian teams, and Australia is the only one from Oceania to win the event. Neither America nor Africa has won the title.
ContinentBest performance
Europe 6 titles, won by the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium
Asia 5 titles, won by Pakistan and India
Oceania 3 titles, won by Australia
Americas is in Third place (Argentina, 2014)
Africa Fourth place (Kenya, 1971)
Team appearances FIH Hockey World Cup
Team
1971
1973
1975
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2023Total
Argentina 10th 9th 11th 8th 12th 6th 9th 7th – 6th 10th 7th 3rd 7th Q 14
Australia 8th – 5th 3rd 3rd 1st 3rd 3rd 4th 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 3rd Q 14
Belarus Part of the Soviet Union 12th – – – – – – – 1
Belgium – 8th – 14th – – – 11th – 14th – – 5th 1st Q 7
Canada – – – 11th – 10th 11th – 8th – – 11th – 11th – 6
Chile – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Q 1
China – – – – – – – – – – – – – 10th – 1
Cuba – – – – – – – – – 16th – – – – – 1
England – 6th 6th 7th 8th 2nd 5th 6th 6th 7th 5th 4th 4th 4th Q 14
France 7th – – – – – 7th – – – – – – 8th Q 4
Germany^ 5th 3rd 3rd 4th 2nd 3rd 4th 4th 3rd 1st 1st 2nd 6th 5th Q 15
Ghana – – 12th – – – – – – – – – – – – 1
India 3rd 2nd 1st 6th 5th 12th 10th 5th 9th 10th 11th 8th 9th 6th Q 15
Ireland – – – 12th – – 12th – – – – – – 14th – 3
Italy – – – 13th – – – – – – – – – – – 1
Japan 9th 10th – – – – – – – 12th 9th – – – Q 5
Kenya 4th 12th – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2
Malaysia – 11th 4th 10th 10th – – – 11th 8th – – 12th 15th Q 9
Netherlands 6th 1st 9th 2nd 4th 7th 1st 2nd 1st 3rd 7th 3rd 2nd 2nd Q 15
New Zealand – 7th 7th – 7th 9th – – 10th 9th 8th 9th 7th 9th Q 11
Pakistan 1st 4th 2nd 1st 1st 11th 2nd 1st 5th 5th 6th 12th – 12th – 13
Poland – – 10th 9th 8th 8th – – 12th 15th – – – – – 6
South Africa – – – – – – – 10th – 13th 12th 10th 11th 16th Q 7
South Korea – – – – – – – 8th 7th 4th 4th 6th 10th – Q 7
Soviet Union# – – – – 6th 4th 6th Defunct 3
Spain 2nd 5th 8th 5th 11th 5th 8th 9th 2nd 11th 3rd 5th 8th 13th Q 15
Wales – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Q 1
Total101212141212121212161212121616
Also Read: FIH Hockey World Cup 2023 Pool A Preview
