WORLD LEAGUE HOCKEY
About the World League
Hockey is truly a global sport and the world hockey family is huge. 127
national federations are affiliated to the International Hockey Federation, and ranges
from the elite hockey nations to places you would be struggling to find on a map.
Do you know where Myanmar is for instance? (It’s actually the official name of Burma.)
Many of these small nations have little opportunity to take part in world level competition, but that has changed with the introduction of the new World League. It also signals a change in the way that nations qualify for the Olympics and World Cup, a process which has come in for criticism in the past.
England’s men and women have byes to Round 3, which is expected to be played in June or July.
In order to reduce cost for the nations lower down the rankings, Round 1 tournaments will be relatively local. For example, the 2012 Round 1 tournament played in Cardiff saw Austria, Ireland, Sweden and Wales taking part.
The number of nations qualifying for Round 2 from each Round 1 tournament is dependent on a number of factors, and up to three nations can qualify from each tournament.
More information will appear on this page when Round 2 schedules are announced.
Round 1 Calendar
August 14-
Belarus, Czech Rep., Poland, Ukraine.
Poland and Ukraine qualify for Round 2
August 14-
Belarus, Czech Rep., France, Italy, Scotland,
Turkey. Belarus, Czech Rep., Italy and Scotland qualify for Round 2
August 31 –
Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand.
Bangladesh qualify for Round 2.
September 7-
Ghana, Nigeria.
Nigeria qualify for Round 2
September 7-
Ghana, Egypt, Nigeria.
Egypt qualify for Round 2.
September 7-
Austria, Ireland, Sweden, Wales.
Ireland and Austria qualify Round 2
September 14-
Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka.
Malaysia and Kazakhstan qualify for Round 2.
September 18-
Austria, Belgium, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Wales.
Belgium, Russia, Ukraine
and Austria qualify.
September 25-
Italy, Gibraltar, Morocco, Portugal and Scotland.
Scotland and Portugal qualify for
Round 2.
November 11-
Barbados, Canada, Dominican Rep.,Guyana, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay
and Venezuela.
Canada, Uruguay and Trinidad & Tobago qualify for Round 2.
November 13-
Barbados, Chile, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela.
Trinidad & Tobago and
Chile qualify for Round 2
November 16-
Dominican Rep., Guatamala, Mexico, United States.
United States qualify for Round
2.
November 27 –
Azerbaijan, Oman, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Turkey,UAE, Uzbekistan.
Azerbaijan qualify for
Round 2.
December 8-
Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu.
Fiji qualify for Round 2.
December 8-
Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu.
Fiji qualify for Round 2.
The World League is a brand new competition introduced in 2012 by the International Hockey Federation. You can find out more about it on this page.
New FIH World League
Some Basic Facts
- The League is open to men’s and women’s national teams from nations affiliated to
the FIH.
- League will be organised into four rounds and will take place over a two year cycle,
starting in 2012.
- Higher ranked nations will receive byes into later rounds. Those ranked 9 to 18 will
receive a bye into Round 2. Nations ranked 1 to 8 will receive a bye into Round 3.
- The League will eventually become the qualifying competition for the World Cup and
Olympic Games.
- Over 60 Nations are taking part. For 19 of the participating nations it will be their first opportunity to play international Hockey.