Nickname: The Red Lions

Previous FIH Hockey Pro League placements: 2019: 2nd. 2020-21: 1st. 2021-22: 2nd. 2022-23: 3rd

Notable honours: FIH Hockey World Cup winners (2018), Olympic gold medallists (2021), Olympic silver medallists (2016), FIH Hockey World Cup silver medallists (2023), Olympic bronze medallists (1920), FIH Hockey Pro League champions (2020-21), 2x FIH Hockey Pro League silver medallists (2019, 2021-22), Hockey World League silver medallists (2015), European champions (2019), 2x European silver medallists (2013, 2017), 3x European bronze medallists (2007, 2021, 2023), 5th place - Olympic Games (2012)

Belgium’s rise from European also-rans to the summit of global hockey has been one of the standout stories of the past two decades. In the past six years the Red Lions have won every major title on offer, including the World Cup (2018), Olympic Games (2021), European Championship (2019) and FIH Hockey Pro League (2020-21). They came within a shoot-out of successfully defending their World title at the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023, with Germany winning the one-on-ones 5-4 after a thrilling final finished 3-3. Striker Tom Boon was excelled at that event, netting eight times including in the quarter final, semi-final and a 59th minute equaliser in the gold medal game to force the shoot-out. A small measure of revenge was achieved in August 2023 when Belgium defeated Germany to seal bronze at the EuroHockey Championships 2023, with Nelson Onana and Florent van Aubel helping the team to a 2-0 win over the hosts nation in Mönchengladbach. In Vincent Vanasch and Loic Van Doren they have two world class goalkeepers, while Arthur Van Doren, Victor Wegnez, Felix Denayer, Florent Van Aubel, Alexander Hendrickx, Arthur de Sloover and John-John Dohmen –who earlier this year became the world record caps holder, surpassing Dutch legend Teun de Nooijer’s mark of 453 – are all extraordinary talents. With masses of experience and world class quality, Belgium will be rightly considered amongst the favourites for the title.

This season, Belgium will take to the field for FIH Hockey Pro League ‘mini-tournaments’ in Buenos Aires (ARG), Antwerp (BEL), Utrecht (NED) and Amsterdam (NED).

One to watch: Arthur Van Doren. A key figure in the Red Lions team that claimed the Olympic, World, European and FIH Hockey Pro League titles in recent years, defender Arthur Van Doren is a two-time winner of the FIH Player of the Year award and one of the finest players of the modern era