The United States of America withdrew from the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup qualifiers as the Middle East plunged into crisis, the International Hockey Federation announced on Wednesday.
Team USA was playing its qualifiers in Ismailia, Egypt, and had finished at the bottom of its pool in the first round. It was to face China in the classification round on March 6 — a fixture that will now see the Chinese get a walkover.
“Following an official advisory on 3 March 2026 from the US State Department urging all US citizens to depart from nations within or close to the conflict zones in the Middle East, including Egypt, the USA Men’s team, with the full support of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), has withdrawn from the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifier currently taking place in Ismailia, Egypt,” the FIH said in a statement on its website.
“The team departed Egypt earlier today. The results of the first two USA matches will stand, and the remaining matches involving the USA will be cancelled.”
The teams which didn’t qualify through continental tournaments are participating in these matches, with seven slots up for grabs for the World Cup set to be played in Belgium and the Netherlands between August 14 and 30.
Tensions have flared in the Middle East since Israel and the United States launched air strikes in Iran, leading to a conflict that has shut down a major section of the airspace in the region.
Published on Mar 05, 2026
