Men's FIH Pro League

Last updated

Men's FIH Pro League
Current season, competition or edition:
Field hockey current event.svg 2025–26 Men's FIH Pro League
Fih pro league logo19.png
Formerly Hockey World League
Sport Field hockey
Founded2017;8 years ago (2017)
First season 2019
No. of teams9
ContinentInternational (FIH)
Most recent
champion(s)
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands (3th title)
(2024–25)
Most titlesFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
(3 titles)
Relegation to FIH Hockey Nations Cup
Official website fihproleague.com

The Men's FIH Pro League is an international men's field hockey competition organised by the International Hockey Federation. It replaced the Men's FIH Hockey World League. The tournament serves as a qualifier for the Men's Hockey World Cup. [1]

Contents

Format

FIH Pro League Trophy FIH Pro League Trophy.jpg
FIH Pro League Trophy

Nine men's and women's teams compete in a round-robin tournament with home and away matches, played from October to June, with the top team at the end of the season winning the league. From 2022–23 onwards, the bottom team at the end of the season will be relegated and will be replaced by the winner of a new competition called the Men's FIH Nations Cup. [2]

Teams

In July 2017, Hockey India decided to withdraw both the men's and women's national teams from the competition as they estimated the chances of qualifying for the Summer Olympics to be higher when participating in the Men's FIH Hockey World League. Hockey India also cited lack of clarity in the ranking system. [3] [4] The International Hockey Federation subsequently invited Spain instead. [5] Pakistan were suspended in 2019 after they could not play their first three games. [6] India joined the Pro League from 2020 onwards. [7] In September 2021, both New Zealand and Australia withdrew from the 2021–22 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions coming with it. [8] [9]

Current teams
Former teams

Results

Ed.YearFinal hostFinalThird place matchTeams
GS / FR
ChampionsScoreRunners-upThird placeScoreFourth place
1
2019 Amstelveen, NetherlandsFlag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
3–2Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
5–3Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Great Britain
8 / 4
2
2020–21 (Various)Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
Round-robin Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
Round-robin Flag of India.svg
India
9
3
[a]
2021–22 (Various)Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Round-robin Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
Flag of India.svg
India
Round-robin Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
9
4
2022–23 (Various)Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Round-robin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Great Britain
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
Round-robin Flag of India.svg
India
9
5
2023–24 (Various)Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
Round-robin Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Great Britain
Round-robin Flag of Argentina.svg
Argentina
9
6
2024–25 (Various)Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Round-robin Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Round-robin Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
9
7
2025–26 (Various) Round-robin Round-robin 9

Performance by nations

TeamWinnersRunners-upThird placeFourth place
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 3 (2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25)1 (2023–24)1 (2019)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2 (2019, 2023–24)1 (2020–21)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 1 (2020–21)3 (2019, 2021–22, 2024–25)1 (2022–23)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1 (2022–23)1 (2023–24)1 (2019)
Flag of India.svg  India 1 (2021–22)2 (2020–21, 2022–23)
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 1 (2020–21)2 (2021–22, 2024–25)
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1 (2024–25)
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 1 (2023–24)

Team appearances

Team 2019 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26 Total
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 5th7th5th8th4th6thQ7
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1st2ndWD7th1st5thQ6
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 2nd1st2nd3rd5th2ndQ7
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada WD0
Flag of England.svg  England Part of GB6thPart of GB7thQ3
Flag of France.svg  France 8th1
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 6th3rd4th6th6th4thQ7
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 4th6th2nd3rd4
Flag of India.svg  India 4th3rd4th7th8thQ6
Flag of Ireland hockey team.svg  Ireland 9th Decrease2.svg9th Decrease2.svg2
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 3rd5th1st1st2nd1stQ7
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 8th8thWD9th Decrease2.svgWDWD3
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan DSQQ1
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 9thWD1
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 7th9th7th5th8th3rdQ7
Total8999999

See also

Notes

  1. Australia and New Zealand withdrew from the tournament before it began, being replaced by Canada and South Africa. Six weeks after being declared New Zealand's replacement, Canada withdrew and was replaced by France.

References

  1. "Hockey Pro League Q&A". fih.ch. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  2. "About FIH Pro League". International Hockey Federation. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  3. "Hockey India justifies withdrawal from FIH Pro League". The Times of India. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  4. "FIH statement on the withdrawal of Hockey India from the Hockey Pro League". fih.ch. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  5. "FIH confirms Spain men and Belgium women join Hockey Pro League". fih.ch. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  6. "FIH Pro League: Pakistan out of first edition". 24 January 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  7. "Executive Board approves 2020 and 2021 FIH Pro League match schedule principles". fih.ch. International Hockey Federation. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  8. "Hockey Australia announces absence from FIH tournaments". www.hockey.org.au. Hockey Australia. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  9. "Hockey New Zealand unable to participate in FIH events in late 2021, early 2022". Hockey New Zealand. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2022.