Belgium hosts the Hockey World Cup with the Netherlands
Belgium is hosting the Hockey World Cup for the first time in its history, with both men's and women's competitions starting on Saturday. The national stadium in Wavre, which has been renovated, will host half of the 100 matches, with the Netherlands hosting the others in Amstelveen.
A new format for the two competitions
The two competitions will adopt a new format, with two group phases. In the first round, 16 teams will be divided into four groups of four. The top two teams from each group will face off against teams from another group in a second round. The top two nations from each group will then face off in the semifinals.
Red Lions and Red Panthers in action
The Hockey Arena in Wavre, which has been renovated and can now hold 10,000 spectators, will host most of the matches of the Belgian national teams. Red Lions and Red Panthers will compete in their two group phases. The Belgian men's team is guaranteed to play their semifinal and final (scheduled for Sunday, August 30) at home, while the women's team will have to play theirs in the outskirts of Amsterdam.
Women's final scheduled for August 29
The women's final is scheduled for August 29. The Wagener Stadium, which can also hold 10,000 spectators, will host most of the matches of the Dutch teams, as well as the first match of the competition, Australia-Japan, in Group A of the women's tournament, on Saturday at 10:00. The first match on Belgian soil will be Germany-Scotland at 11:30 (in Group B of the women's competition).
Belgium in good position
Belgium is currently 1st in the World Cup, with 5 points, 1 win, 2 draws, and 0 losses in 3 matches. The Red Lions have also scored 6 goals and conceded 2, for a +4 goal difference.
