Men's FIH Pro League

For the women's competition, see Women's FIH Pro League.

Men's FIH Pro League

Current season, competition or edition: 2023–24 Men's FIH Pro League
Formerly	Hockey World League
Sport	Field hockey
Founded	2017;7 years ago (2017)
First season	2019
No. of teams	9
Continent	International (FIH)
Most recent champion(s)	Netherlands (2nd title) (2022–23)
Most titles	Netherlands (2 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 (FIH), which replaces the Men's FIH Hockey World League. The competition also serves as a qualifier for the Hockey World Cup and the first edition also did for the Olympic Games. ^[1]

The first edition started in 2019. Nine teams secured their places for four years.

Format

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 on 23 January 2019 after they could not play their first three games. ^[6] India joined the Pro League from 2020 onwards. ^[7] On 17 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

•   Argentina
•   Australia
•   Belgium
•   Germany
•   Great Britain
•   India
•   Ireland
•   Netherlands
•   Spain

Former teams

•   Pakistan (suspended in 2019)
•   France (competed in the 2021–22 season)
•   South Africa (competed in the 2021–22 season)
•   New Zealand (relegated from the 2022–23 season)

Results

Ed.	Year	Final host		Final				Third place match				Teams GS / FR
				Champions	Score	Runners-up		Third place	Score	Fourth place
1	2019	Amstelveen, Netherlands		Australia	3–2	Belgium		Netherlands	5–3	Great Britain		8 / 4
2	2020–21	(Various)		Belgium	RR	Australia		Germany	RR	India		9
3 [lower-alpha 1]	2021–22	(Various)		Netherlands	RR	Belgium		India	RR	Germany		9
4	2022–23	(Various)		Netherlands	RR	Great Britain		Belgium	RR	India		9
5	2023–24	(Various)										9

Summary

Team	Winners	Runners-up	Third place	Fourth place
Netherlands	2 (2021–22, 2022–23)		1 (2019)
Belgium	1 (2020–21)	2 (2019, 2021–22)	1 (2022–23)
Australia	1 (2019)	1 (2020–21)
Great Britain		1 (2022–23)		1 (2019)
India			1 (2021–22)	2 (2020–21, 2022–23)
Germany			1 (2020–21)	1 (2021–22)

Team appearances

Team	2019	2020–21	2021–22	2022–23	2023–24	Total
Argentina	5th	7th	5th	8th	Q	5
Australia	1st	2nd	WD	7th	Q	4
Belgium	2nd	1st	2nd	3rd	Q	5
Canada	–	–	WD	–	–	0
England	Part of GB		6th	Part of GB		1
France	–	–	8th	–	–	1
Germany	6th	3rd	4th	6th	Q	5
Great Britain	4th	6th	–	2nd	Q	4
India	–	4th	3rd	4th	Q	4
Ireland	–	–	–	–	Q	1
Netherlands	3rd	5th	1st	1st	Q	5
New Zealand	8th	8th	WD	9th	–	3
Pakistan	DSQ	–	–	–	–	0
South Africa	–	–	9th	–	WD	1
Spain	7th	9th	7th	5th	Q	5
Total	8	9	9	9	9

See also

• Women's FIH Pro League
• Hockey Series
• Men's FIH Hockey World League
• Men's FIH Hockey Nations Cup

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.

External links

• Official website