The 16th men’s and women’s FIH Hockey World Cups will be held simultaneously in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15. Wavre and Amstelveen will host the tournaments, with matches played at the Belfius Hockey Arena and Wagener Stadium respectively.
While Wavre is hosting its first hockey World Cup, Amstelveen is doing so for the fourth time, having previously staged the 1973 men’s, 1986 women’s and 2022 women’s editions. Here’s a quick look at the two venues.
Wagener Stadium (Amstelveen, The Netherlands)
The arena was built in 1938 and named after Joop Wagener, a former chairman of Hockey Club Amsterdam. It has hosted several major international tournaments, including the 1973 men’s World Cup, where the Netherlands beat India in a penalty shootout. It also staged the 1986 and 2022 women’s World Cups.
The stadium has hosted three European Championships and four Champions Trophy editions. A 2017 renovation increased its seating capacity to around 9,000. This time, it will host the women’s World Cup final on August 29.
Belfius Hockey Arena (Wavre, Belgium)
The stadium is a new addition to the modern hockey landscape, having been completed late last year and inaugurated in April 2026. The 4,000-seater venue is expected to have its capacity temporarily increased to around 10,000 for the World Cups. It also hosted several FIH Pro League matches in June.
The arena stands on the former site of the Justin Peeters Stadium, a football ground that was once home to now-defunct Wavre Sports FC.
It will host the men’s World Cup final on August 30.
Published on Aug 12, 2026
