The return of the FIH Hockey Pro League is nearly upon us, with several teams set to make their Pro League debuts in what promises to be a hugely exciting period at the start of the year right through to the end of June 2022.
As well as the usual suspects, the renowned global international league will feature four new teams that, for one season only, will be determined to make a big splash in the third edition of the competition. The women’s teams of India and Spain will both take to the field in the next two weeks, while the men of South Africa and France – who were confirmed as participants earlier this week – will step onto the turf later in February.
Although the opportunity to compete in the 2021-22 edition of the FIH Hockey Pro League was a direct result of the covid-19 travel restrictions in place in Australia and New Zealand, therefore forcing their withdrawal, the newcomers will be utterly determined to make the very most of the chance to pit themselves against the very best hockey teams on the planet.
With a stellar line-up of teams and players, we can be certain of some absolutely thrilling contests as Season 3 gets into full flow over the coming months. As reigning FIH Hockey Pro League and Olympic champions, Belgium men and Netherlands women will rightly be considered as pre-competition favourites but are unlikely to have it all their own way. India men were hugely impressive in their debut Pro League season and will have gained even more confidence following their Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo, while the likes of the Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, England, and Spain – not forgetting debutants South Africa and France – are all capable of big performances. In the women’s competition, the Netherlands can expect strong challenges from Tokyo 2020 silver medallists Argentina as well as England, Germany, China, Belgium, USA, India and Spain.
Fascinatingly, the action begins in Muscat, Oman, where China and India women will take to the field both on 31 January and 1st February following the conclusion of the Women’s Asia Cup, which is currently being staged in the city. It will be the first time that Pro League matches have been staged in the Middle East and, coming immediately after the conclusion of the Asia Cup, we can expect both teams to be razor sharp. Debutants India have a higher ranking than China, but the recent head-to-head record between the two teams – China with five wins, India with seven – suggests it could be close.
On 4-5 February, Spain’s national teams welcome England men and the Netherlands women to Valencia’s Estadio Betero.
Spain women are another side making their FIH Hockey Pro League debut and face a real baptism of fire against the reigning Pro League, European, World and Olympic champions. The Dutch may have lost the services of head coach Alyson Annan, but with Germany’s highly regarded Jami Mulders stepping up from assistant coach to the top role for the time being, they have a replacement with a proven track record, having guided Germany’s women to Olympic bronze at the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
Spain’s men also face a debutant side of sorts, with England rather than Great Britain competing in this edition of the FIH Hockey Pro League as they build towards the 2023 Men’s World Cup competition in Odisha, India. Spain head coach Max Caldas will be keen to see the progress made since switching from the Netherlands men’s set up after Tokyo 2020, with England playing their first capped international matches since the recent departure of master coach Danny Kerry. With three wins, three draws and three losses apiece in their previous nine meetings, these matches could go either way.
A snapshot summary of those matches can be found below.
China v India (Women)
Where: Muscat, Oman.
Dates: Monday 31 January & Tuesday 1 February
Timings (local – UTC/GMT +4)
Match 1 (31 Jan): 1500
Match 2 (1 Feb): 1500
Match pages
Match 1 (31 Jan): click here.
Match 2 (1 Feb): click here.
Current FIH World Ranking: China: 12 | India: 9
Final standings - FIH Hockey Pro League 2019: China: 7 | India: N/A
Final standings - FIH Hockey Pro League 2020-21: China: 8 | India: N/A
Head-to-heads in all competitions (since 2013 – 13 matches)
Wins:China: 5 | India: 7 | Draws: 1
Goals scored: China: 18 | India: 22
Team pages (squads & statistics): China | India
Spain v England (Men)
Where: Valencia, Spain.
Dates: Friday 4 & Saturday 5 February
Timings (Local – UTC/GMT +1)
Match 1 (4 Feb): 1100
Match 2 (5 Feb): 1300
Match pages
Match 1 (4 Feb): click here.
Match 2 (5 Feb): click here.
Current FIH World Ranking: Spain: 9 | England: 6
Final standings - FIH Hockey Pro League 2019: Spain: 7 | England: N/A
Final standings - FIH Hockey Pro League 2020-21: Spain: 9 | England: N/A
Head-to-heads in all competitions (since 2013 – 9 matches)
Wins:Spain: 3 | England: 3 | Draws: 3
Goals scored:Spain: 18 | England: 18
Team pages (squads & statistics): Spain | England
Netherlands v Spain (Women)
Where: Valencia, Spain.
Dates: Friday 4 & Saturday 5 February
Timings (Local – UTC/GMT +1)
Match 1 (4 Feb): 1330
Match 2 (5 Feb): 1630
Match pages
Match 1 (4 Feb): click here.
Match 2 (5 Feb): click here.
Current FIH World Ranking: Spain: 6 | Netherlands: 1
Final standings - FIH Hockey Pro League 2019: Spain: N/A | Netherlands: 1
Final standings - FIH Hockey Pro League 2020-21: Spain: N/A | Netherlands: 1
Head-to-heads in all competitions (since 2013 – 10 matches)
Wins:Spain: 2 | Netherlands: 8 | Draws: 2
Goals scored: Spain: 5 | Netherlands: 36
Team pages (squads & statistics): Spain | Netherlands.
There are plenty more FIH Hockey Pro League matches on the horizon, with games being played in Potchefstroom (South Africa), Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Bhubaneswar (India) in the weeks ahead. The men’s matches in Potchefstroom will see debutants South Africa, fellow debutants France, India, the Netherlands and Germany all facing off against each other, while Argentina’s men and women faced double headers against Belgium at Cenard.
Towards the end of February, Bhubaneswar’s magnificent Kalinga Stadium will play host to men’s and women’s double headers between India and Spain. It promises to be a pulsating few weeks of FIH Hockey Pro League action. To see the complete FIH Hockey Pro League match schedule, please click here.
More information about the new additions to the men’s FIH Hockey Pro League can be found below.
France (FIH World Ranking: 13)
The unfortunate COVID-19-related withdrawal of Canada has opened the FIH Hockey Pro League door for France, who have accepted their invitation to join the third edition of the competition. It is a fantastic opportunity for the talented team from Europe, boosting their preparations for the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup, an event for which they have already qualified and will be played in January 2023 in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela (India). Although this is the first time the players will have competed in this showpiece event, in Head coach and former France international Fred Soyez they have a rich source of knowledge at their disposal, having guided Spain’s men through the first two editions of the competition in his previous coaching role. With the French Men’s Junior team having recently claimed the bronze medal at the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Bhubaneswar 2021, where team captain Timothée Clément was crowned Best Player of the Tournament, the future looks very bright indeed.
South Africa (FIH World Ranking: 10)
Following their sparkling performances at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, South Africa – who take to the FIH Hockey Pro League stage alongside Canada for one season only in place of New Zealand and Australia – will be keen to make a big impression. They certainly have the talent to hurt the very best teams in the world, a fact proven by their eye-catching form at the XXXII Olympiad. The team produced fine – albeit losing – displays against European champions the Netherlands and eventual Olympic champions Belgium before securing a famous victory against Germany, fighting back from 3-2 down to defeat the four-time gold medallists 4-3. With a team packed full of fearless, gifted young players, South Africa – recent Africa Cup of Nations winners in Accra, Ghana, qualifying 2023 Men’s World Cup – may create some shockwaves this season.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via the Watch.Hockey app,event website and through FIH social media channels -Facebook,Instagram and Twitter.
Don’t forget to watch the FIH Hockey Pro League Shows, where host Sarah Juggins and a panel of guests will be in discussion about the competition. The shows will be available both on the Watch.Hockey app and the FIH You Tube channel.
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