Hockey in Belgium

BEL

HC-BEL

FIH Rankings

Women#3

Men#2

FIH-W 3

The spectacular force of Belgian hockey

— CULT

Belgian hockey has experienced the most spectacular rise of any European hockey country over the past two decades. The Royal Belgian Hockey Federation coordinates a competition structure in which traditional top clubs such as Royal Léopold, Royal Racing Club de Bruxelles, Dragons, Waterloo Ducks and La Gantoise meet weekly in the Belgian Hockey League. The heart of Belgian hockey lies in and around Brussels and Antwerp, with clubs that combine professional top-sport infrastructure with a distinctive social tradition.

What systemically sets Belgium apart is the BeGold programme, launched in the 2000s by the King Baudouin Foundation in cooperation with the hockey federation. The programme identifies talent at a young age and offers combined top-sport and study tracks with concentrated training in Brussels. BeGold is the direct cause of the Red Lions' Golden Generation, which won Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020 and the world title in 2018. The same structure now forms the foundation on which the Red Panthers have grown from rank thirteen to the global top five.

Head coach Rein van Eijk, who took over in 2024 from Raoul Ehren, builds on a legacy of Dutch influence. Ehren led the Red Panthers between 2020 and 2024 to a historic climb in the world ranking. His move to the Netherlands put pressure on the relationship between the two federations, but tactically much of his work is preserved: rapid transitions, a high press and a developed penalty-corner structure. Van Eijk, previously U21 world champion with the German youth team, adds his own emphasis on vertical transition hockey. As World Cup co-host, Belgium plays all its pool matches in the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre.

Olympic medals

World Cup medals

1927

FIH member since

Everything you want to know about hockey in Belgium

— LAYERS

National Hockey Federation

website: September 2026

Association Royale Belge de Hockey

hockey.be↗

X · Facebook

The latest news

More news↗

National men's team

ranked 2 FIH

A small country at the top of the world rankings, a rejuvenated squad that has to make people forget the golden generation, and a World Cup on home soil in Wavre. The Red Lions are the story of how Belgium became a hockey superpower, and is doing everything to stay one.

Under the returned New Zealand head coach Shane McLeod, who steered Belgium to Olympic gold in 2020, the Red Lions play a textbook version of modern top hockey: possession, high pressing and lightning-fast transitions. Captain Arthur Van Doren, penalty-corner specialist Alexander Hendrickx and veterans like goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch and forward Tom Boon carry the team. At the 2026 World Cup they play their pool in the brand-new Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, against Germany, France and Malaysia, with a top-two finish as the first goal and the title in sight. In the full dossier you can read how Belgium became a superpower, how the Red Lions want to play, and who can stop them at home.

National women's team

ranked 3 FIH

Since the spring of 2026, Wavre has been home to the Belfius Hockey Arena, the first hockey stadium Belgium ever built for itself. There the Red Panthers play their World Cup pool matches this summer, for the first time in history on home soil. It is the provisional end point of a climb few sports have ever seen so fast: from outside the global top ten to a fixed place among the world's best three, carried by the same machine that made the Red Lions world champions.

The face of that generation is Charlotte Englebert, the composed playmaker who earns her living at Den Bosch in the Netherlands and is rated among the best internationally. Alongside her stands a team that went further than ever at Paris 2024, and that now wants to prove at home that the achievement was no fluke. In the full dossier you can read how the Red Panthers became what they are, how they want to play, who can stop them, and which wound from Paris they hope to heal in Wavre and Amstelveen.

website: September 2026

Women

Belgian Hockey League

Standings coming

Men

Belgian Hockey League

Reigning national champion: Waterloo Ducks (2025-26)

Standings coming

FIH certified hockey fields

69 certified (2 expired)

Category 1

1 certified

Fields meeting the requirements for top-level international tournaments.

Belfius Hockey Arena, Wavre
Polytan
Poligras Platinum World Cup GT 11-40 MB EL 10
Valid until: Oct 21, 2028

Category 2

49 certified

Fields for international and top-level national competitions.

Brugge
Lano Sports NV
S-tec Solution Xperience ET25
Valid until: Feb 3, 2028
Aalst Hockey T1, Aalst
Sports & Leisure - DOMO Sports Grass
Domo Fastplay M Institu 25
Valid until: Mar 28, 2027
Anderlecht Amicale, Anderlecht
Sports & Leisure - DOMO Sports Grass
Domo Fastplay IS 15
Valid until: Aug 23, 2027
Royal Antwerp Hockey Club - Field 1, Antwerp
Lano Sports
S-tec Solution Xperience IS 15
Valid until: Aug 20, 2028
Wilrijkse pleinen T2, Antwerp
Lano Sports
Hockey Solution IS 15
Valid until: Jul 30, 2027
HC Herakles-T1, Boechout
Lano Sports
S-tec Solution Xperience ET 25
HC Herakles-T2, Boechout
Lano Sports
S-tec Solution Experience ET 25
KHC Dragons – DRAG 1, Brasschaat
Greenfields
Greenfields TX Elite EL 15
Valid until: Aug 14, 2028
Royal Wellington THC, Brussels
Condor Grass
Hockey Ultra PE 13 EL20
Valid until: Mar 10, 2028
Indiana T2, De Pinte
Lano Sports
S-tec Orbion II ET 25
Valid until: Sep 2, 2027
Royal Victory Hockey Club Field 1, Edegem
Polytan
Poligras Platinum CoolPlus 11-42 MB EL15 RW
Valid until: Feb 17, 2027
Embourg T1, Embourg
Sports & Leisure
Domo Fastplay IS 15
Valid until: Oct 17, 2027
Royal Evere White Star HC, Evere
Sports & Leisure - DOMO Sports Grass
Domo FastPlay IS 15
Valid until: Mar 3, 2028
Royal Orée T1, Evere
Lano Sports NV
S-tec Solution Xperience ET 25
Valid until: Mar 7, 2027
Hockey Club Genk, Genk
Lano Sports
S-tec Solution Xperience ET 25
Valid until: Feb 12, 2027
Gantoise Arena, Ghent
Polytan
Poligras Tokyo GT 11-43 EL 15
Valid until: Jan 7, 2027
RCA Grez Doiceau-T1, Grez Doiceau
Lano Sports
S-tec Solution Xcellence ET25
Valid until: May 7, 2028
Merode T1, Grimbergen
Polytan
Poligras Mega CoolPlus 11-2-40 EL 15
Valid until: Oct 30, 2026
Merode T2, Grimbergen
Polytan
Poligras TeamPlay CP 11-38 MB ET25
Valid until: Sep 5, 2027
Koninklijke hockeyclub Leuven T1, Heverlee - Leuven
Edel Grass
Edel ID. EL System
Valid until: Feb 8, 2028
HIH Hoegaarden HC, Hoegaarden
Lano Sports
S-tec Solution Experience ET 25
Valid until: Feb 17, 2028
KMTHC Hombeek Field 1, Hombeek
Condor Grass
Hockey Ultra PE 13 EL 15
Valid until: Mar 24, 2027
Keerbergen Tigers, Keerbergen
Lano Sports
S-tec Solution Xperience ET 25
Valid until: Nov 14, 2027
Braxgata main field, Kontich
Lano Sports NV
S-tec Solution Xperience IS15
Valid until: Jan 30, 2027
Royal Beerschot Tennis Hockey Club field 1, Kontich
Lano Sports
Lano Hockey Solution IS 15
Valid until: Dec 11, 2027
Royal Beerschot Tennis Hockey Club field 2, Kontich
Lano Sports
Lano Hockey Solution IS 15
Valid until: Dec 11, 2027
G.E.R. St-Georges, Kortrijk
Edel Grass
Edel Triple-T system
Valid until: Feb 10, 2028
Kortrijk Lange Munte, Kortrijk
Lano Sports
S-tec Solution Xperience ET25
Valid until: Oct 5, 2026
Lokeren field 2, Lokeren
Lano Sports
S-Tec Solution Xperience IS 20m
Valid until: Nov 26, 2026
Louvain La Neuve Hockey club-Field A, Louvain La Neuve
Sports & Leisure - DOMO Sports Grass
Domo Fastplay IS 15
Valid until: Jan 30, 2028
Ascalon Hockey Club Mons T1, Mons
Sports & Leisure - DOMO Sports Grass
DOMO Fast Play-IS15
Valid until: Aug 5, 2028
Hockey Namur - terrain 1, Namur
Lano Sports
Hockey Solution IS 15
Valid until: Mar 17, 2028
Hockey HC Dender, Ninove
Polytan
Poligras Mega CoolPLus 11-2-40 EL 15
Valid until: Sep 1, 2027
Royal Pingouin Club Nivelles T1, Nivelles
Lano Sports NV
Lano Hockey Solution IS 15
Valid until: Sep 30, 2027
Old Club de Liège-Rocourt, Rocourt-Luik
Lano Sports NV
Hockey Solution IS15
Valid until: Feb 3, 2027
Hockey Club Hermes, Ronse
Edel Grass
Edel ID. EL 20 System
Valid until: Feb 5, 2028
Stade Fallon Field 4, Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe
Lano Sports
Hockey Solution IS15
Valid until: Mar 31, 2027
Stade Fallon Field 5, Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe
Lano Sports
S-tec Solution Xperience ET25
Valid until: Mar 31, 2027
HC Rapid Temse, Temse
Condor Grass
Hockey Ultra PE 13 EL15
Valid until: Feb 4, 2028
Royal Racing Club de Bruxelles - T1, Uccle
Lano Sports
S-tec Solution Xperience ET25
Valid until: Aug 2, 2027
Royal Uccle Sport field 1, Uccle
Lano Sports
Hockey Solution IS 20
Valid until: Mar 11, 2028
Royal Leopold field A, Ukkel
Sports & Leisure Group NV - Domo Sports Grass
Domo FastPlay IS15
Valid until: Jan 28, 2027
Waterloo Ducks Hockey Club - Field 2, Waterloo
Sports & Leisure
Domo Fastplay IS 15
Valid until: Nov 14, 2026
Waterloo Ducks Hockey Club - Field 3, Waterloo
Sports & Leisure
Domo Fastplay IS 15
Valid until: Mar 4, 2027
Belfus Hockey Arena, Wavre
Polytan
Poligras Platinum World Cup GT 11-40 MB EL 10
Valid until: Mar 6, 2029
Lara T2, Wavre
Lano Sports
Hockey Solution IS15
Valid until: Jun 19, 2027
Nautisport, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
FieldTurf
Hockey Gold Speed L 13-31
Valid until: Oct 29, 2026
Wolu Sports Park, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
Sports & Leisure - DOMO Sports Grass
Domolympic MDC/P
Valid until: Mar 2, 2028
Westhoek Wildcats, Ypres
Lano Sports
S-Tec Solution Xperience IS 20
Valid until: Jul 31, 2027

Category 3

14 certified (1 expired)

Fields for lower-level national, regional and club play.

RSCA Andenne Arena, Andenne
Sports & Leisure - Domo Sports Grass
Domo hockey Xtreme MDC / Proplay 20
Valid until: Jun 16, 2029
Indiana T3, De Pinte
Lano Sports
S-tec Orbion ERGO PE6
Royal Baudouin Hockey Club, Dilbeek
Greenfields
Greenfields TX Pro Plus (v2.0) ET25
Valid until: Nov 18, 2027
Royal La Louvière hockey club, La Louvière
Sports & Leisure - Domo Sports Grass
Domo Fastplay IS 25
Valid until: Jan 13, 2028
Louvain La Neuve Hockey club-Field B, Louvain La Neuve
Sports & Leisure - DOMO Sports Grass
Domo Fastplay IS 15
Valid until: Jan 30, 2028
HCMM Maasmechelen, Maasmechelen
Edel Grass
Edel ID. Smart PFT System
Valid until: Aug 4, 2027
HC Blackbirds, Massenhove
Condor Grass
Hockey Ultra PE18sd PRF10
Valid until: May 17, 2027
HC Intermol, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
Fieldturf
Hockey Gold Elite 18-22.5 IS25
Valid until: Aug 26, 2027
Le Jaguar, Perwez
Edel Grass
Edel ID EL 20
Valid until: Mar 30, 2028
Roeselare T2, Roeselare
Act Sports
#AllStar 22-260 ISB25 S
Valid until: Jul 4, 2028
Sportcentre Sint-Truiden, Sint-Truiden
FieldTurf
Fieldturf Hockey Gold PRO 2.0 16-20.5 ALVEO 3001
Valid until: May 21, 2028
GreenDevils, Ternat
Polytan
Poligras TerraPlus 218 ET 35 Sand
Valid until: Sep 10, 2027
Diependal, Tervuren
Lano Sports
S-tec Solution Xperience ECO ET 25
Lara T1, Wavre
Sports & Leisure
Domo Fastplay IS 15
Valid until: Jun 19, 2027
Sportpark Eeklo, Sportpark Eekloexpired
FIELDTURF TARKETT
HOCKEY GOLD PRO 18-17,5 IS 25
Expired: Aug 12, 2026

Category 4

2 certified (1 expired)

Hockey turf with line markings so other sports can also be played.

Neo Hockey, Bruxelles
Sports & Leisure - Domo Sports Grass
Domo Hockey Xtreme MDC IS15
Valid until: Apr 29, 2028
Royal Ombrage Hockey Club, Woluwe St Pierre
Sports & Leisure
Domo Fastplay M Insitu 25
Valid until: Apr 9, 2028
Linkebeek, Linkebeekexpired
Lano Sports
S-tec Integration Xperience IS 20
Expired: Jul 30, 2026

Dry Turf field

3 certified

Fields with enhanced playing qualities without water, used for national and local competitions.

Indiana T2, De Pinte
Lano Sports
S-tec Orbion II ET 25 Rewetta
Valid until: Sep 2, 2027
Rix hockey club, Rixensart
Sports & Leisure - DOMO Sports Grass
Domo Hockey Xtreme MDC E-Layer 25
Valid until: Jan 14, 2028
HC Rotselaar, Rotselaar
Lano Sports
S-tec Orbion II ERGO-PE6
Valid until: Oct 14, 2028

Coaches

Coming soon

Referees

Coming soon

Belgium hockey teams at the FIH WC 2026

— WK26

Pool CWomen

Wavre, België

Ireland

New Zealand

Spain

Sun 16 August 17:30BEL5-2NZL

Tue 18 August 20:30ESP1-1BEL

Thu 20 August 20:30BEL2-1IRL

Standings

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	BEL	3	2	1	0	8	4	+4	7
2	ESP	3	2	1	0	7	3	+4	7
3	IRL	3	1	0	2	6	7	-1	3
4	NZL	3	0	0	3	4	11	-7	0

Pool FPhase 2

Belgium finished 1st in Pool C and play in Pool F in phase 2. Their new opponents come from Pool B: Argentina (1st) and Germany (2nd). Pool rival Spain (2nd in Pool C) is also in Pool F; that match was already played in phase 1. Pool F competes for places 1 to 8, with the top two reaching the semifinals.

Standings

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	ARG	3	2	1	0	6	2	+4	7
2	BEL	3	1	2	0	4	2	+2	5
3	GER	3	1	0	2	7	7	0	3
4	ESP	3	0	1	2	2	8	-6	1

Sat 22 August 17:30BEL3-1GER

Mon 24 August 20:30BEL0-0ARG

Knockout phase

Semi-finalThu 27 AugustNED1-0BEL

Bronze finalSat 29 AugustBEL1-0AUS

Pool BMen

Wavre, België

Germany

France

Malaysia

Sat 15 August 21:00BEL3-2FRA

Mon 17 August 20:30GER1-0BEL

Wed 19 August 20:30BEL5-3MAS

Standings

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	GER	3	2	1	0	7	2	+5	7
2	BEL	3	2	0	1	8	6	+2	6
3	FRA	3	0	2	1	6	7	-1	2
4	MAS	3	0	1	2	7	13	-6	1

Pool FPhase 2

Belgium finished 2nd in Pool B and play in Pool F in phase 2. Their new opponents come from Pool C: Australia (1st) and Spain (2nd). Pool rival Germany (1st in Pool B) is also in Pool F; that match was already played in phase 1. Pool F competes for places 1 to 8, with the top two reaching the semifinals.

Standings

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	GER	3	2	0	1	6	4	+2	6
2	ESP	3	1	1	1	3	3	0	4
3	AUS	3	1	1	1	4	5	-1	4
4	BEL	3	0	2	1	2	3	-1	2

Fri 21 August 17:00AUS1-1BEL

Sun 23 August 20:30BEL1-1ESP

Knockout phase

Places 5-8Fri 28 AugustIND3-3 (3-4 sh.o.)BEL

Historical highlights Belgium

— HIST

1927

FIH membership

Belgium becomes a member of the International Hockey Federation.

2018

World Cup gold (men) - Bhubaneswar

The Red Lions win Belgium's first world title.

2020

Olympic gold (men) - Tokyo

Historic Olympic gold for the Red Lions.

2024

Red Panthers reach the top 5

A structural place in the global top five under Raoul Ehren.

2026

World Cup co-host

Belgium hosts the World Cup in Wavre together with the Netherlands.

2026

World Cup 2026

Women: bronze. Won the bronze-medal match against Australia. Men: 7th place.

Team

Pts

BEL

ESP

IRL

-1

NZL

-7

Team

Pts

ARG

BEL

GER

ESP

-6

Team

Pts

GER

BEL

FRA

-1

MAS

-6

Team

Pts

GER

ESP

AUS

-1

BEL

-1

Hockey in Belgium

The spectacular force of Belgian hockey