The inaugural edition of the Hockey World League – the action packed competition which provided every hockey-playing nation on earth with the opportunity to go all the way to the Hockey World Cup – does not draw to a close until the middle of January, when Men’s HWL Final event takes place in New Delhi, India. However, that has not stopped the International Hockey Federation (FIH) from declaring its plans for the second edition of the tournament, with the Round 1 events scheduled to take place between July and October 2014.
The FIH can reveal that the Round 1 phase – for teams ranked 17 and above in the FIH World Rankings – will take in incredible locations such as Jamaica (men & women), Singapore (men), Croatia (men), Lithuania (women), Bangladesh (men), Czech Republic (men & women), Zimbabwe (men & women), Portugal (Men), Mexico (men & women), Oman (men) and Fiji (men and women). Further details about each event and the competing nations can be found below.
As well as the Round 1 locations, the FIH has also announced the venues, dates and teams for the Round 2 events, which will be played between January and March 2015. Men’s tournaments have been allocated to Lancaster (USA), Singapore and Cape Town (South Africa), with women’s events going to Montevideo (Uruguay), Ranchi (India) and Valencia (Spain). As well as the qualifying teams from Round 1, Round 2 will also feature the sides placed from 9-16 in the current FIH World Rankings. Details about the competing teams for each event can be found below.
A total of 63 men’s and women’s teams competed in the Round 1 events of the inaugural Hockey World League. That marker is certain be eclipsed in the upcoming Round 1 events, as the Hockey World League continues to play a crucial role in the global growth of the game.
Various nations are expected to make their Hockey World League debuts in Round 1, including Brunei, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. The dream for these and every team that competes in the Hockey World League is to achieve qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, an objective which can be realised in Round 3 of the competition.
“We are greatly looking forward to the second edition of the Hockey World League, especially after the many successes of the first edition”, said FIH President Leandro Negre. “The tournament really is shining a spotlight on hockey in every corner of the globe, and the likely increase in participating teams for the upcoming events shows that our sport is continuing to grow on a truly global level. We are convinced that this tournament will continue to go from strength to strength, aiding the development of hockey throughout the world.”
More information about the locations, dates and teams that will compete in the upcoming Hockey World League Round 1 and Round 2 events can be found below, with complete details being announced over the coming months.
HOCKEY WORLD LEAGUE – ROUND 1 EVENTS
What: Men & Women’s Hockey World League Round 1
Where: Kingston, Jamaica
When: 1-6 July 2014
Teams: Men – Jamaica, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela. Women – Jamaica, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela.
Number of available R2 qualification places: 1 men / 1 women.
What: Women’s Hockey World League Round 1
Where: Singapore
When: 1-6 July 2014
Teams: Singapore, Afghanistan, Brunei, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan.
Number of available R2 qualification places: 4
What: Men’s Hockey World League Round 1
Where: Sveti Ivan Zelina, Croatia
When: 1-6 July 2014
Teams: Men – Croatia, Bulgaria, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey.
Number of available R2 qualification places: 2
What: Women’s Hockey World League Round 1
Where: Siauliai, Lithuania
When: 11-13 July 2014
Teams: Lithuania, Belarus, Poland, Ukraine.
Number of available R2 qualification places: 3
What: Men’s Hockey World League Round 1
Where: Dhaka, Bangladesh
When: 2-7 September 2014
Teams: Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Brunei, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan.
Number of available R2 qualification places: 2
What: Men & Women’s Hockey World League Round 1
Where: Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
When: 2-7 September 2014
Teams: Men – Czech Republic, Armenia, Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine. Women – Czech Republic, Austria, France, Turkey.
Number of available R2 qualification places: 2 men / 3 women.
What: Men & Women’s Hockey World League Round 1
Where: Harare, Zimbabwe
When: 5-7 September 2014
Teams: Men – Zimbabwe, Egypt, Namibia, Nigeria. Women – Zimbabwe, Namibia, Nigeria.
Number of available R2 qualification places: 1 men / 1 women.
What: Men Hockey World League Round 1
Where: Lousada, Portugal
When: 9-14 September 2014
Teams: Portugal, Austria, Gibraltar, Italy, Morocco.
Number of available R2 qualification places: 2
What: Men & Women’s Hockey World League Round 1
Where: Veracruz, Mexico
When: 9-14 September 2014
Teams: Men – Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru. Women – Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Paraguay, Peru.
Number of available R2 qualification places: 2 men / 2 women.
What: Men Hockey World League Round 1
Where: Muscat, Oman
When: 3-5 October 2014
Teams: Oman, Azerbaijan, Iran, Qatar.
Number of available R2 qualification places: 1
What: Men & Women’s Hockey World League Round 1 events
Where: Fiji
When:
Teams:
Number of available R2 qualification places: 1 men / 1 women.
Note: The number of qualifiers from the Round 1 events to Round 2 is subject to the actual final participation numbers of each event.
HOCKEY WORLD LEAGUE – ROUND 2 EVENTS
What: Men’s Hockey World League Round 2
Where: Singapore
When: 17-25 January 2015
Teams: Malaysia, Japan, Poland, Singapore plus:
- the top two finishers from the R1 event in Bangladesh
- the team that finishes 1st at the R1 event in Oceania
- the team that finishes 2nd at the R1 event in Portugal.
What: Women’s Hockey World League Round 2
Where: Montevideo, Uruguay
When: 17-25 January 2015
Teams: Ireland, Azerbaijan, Uruguay plus:
- the team that finishes 1st at the R1 event in Czech Republic
- the team that finishes 2nd at the R1 event in Mexico
- the team that finishes 2nd at the R1 event in Jamaica
- the team that finishes 1st at the R1 event in Zimbabwe
What: Men’s Hockey World League Round 2
Where: Lancaster, USA
When: 25 February – 8th March 2015
Teams: USA, Canada, Ireland plus:
- the team that finishes 1st at the R1 event in Portugal
- the team that finishes 1st at the R1 event in Croatia
- the top two finishers from the R1 event in Mexico
- the team that finishes 1st at the R1 event in Jamaica
What: Women’s Hockey World League Round 2
Where: Ranchi, India
When: 7-15 March 2015
Teams: India, Chile, Russia plus:
- the top four finishers from the R1 event in Singapore
- the team that finishes 1st at the R1 event in Oceania
What: Men’s Hockey World League Round 2
Where: Cape Town, South Africa
When: 7-15 March 2015
Teams: South Africa, France, China plus:
- the team that finishes 1st at the R1 event in Oman
- the top two finisher from the R1 event in Czech Republic
- the team that finishes 1st at the R1 event in Zimbabwe
- the team that finishes 2nd at the R1 event in Croatia
What: Women’s Hockey World League Round 2
Where: Valencia, Spain
When: 14-22 March 2015
Teams: Spain, Italy plus:
- the team that finishes 1st at the R1 event in Mexico
- the top three finishers from the R1 event in Lithuania
- the 2nd and 3rd placed teams from the R1 event in Czech Republic
QUALIFICATION FOR ROUND 3 / SEMI FINAL STAGES: The three highest finishers from each of the men’s Round 2 events will qualify for the Round 3 / Semi Final stages of the Hockey World League. On the women’s side, the two highest finishers from each of the Round 2 events will qualify for the Round 3 / Semi Final stages. They will be joined in Round 3 by the highest ranked of the third place finishers from Round 2 and Belgium, who will host one of the Round 3 events.
About the Hockey World League
The Hockey World League is an action packed competition giving every hockey-playing nation a chance to go all the way to the Hockey World Cup and the Olympics.
Composed of four rounds and played over two years, the schedule alternately coincides with the build-up to the World Cup and to the Olympics, providing more than half of the entry tickets for both. Beyond a mere qualifier, the Hockey World League shines a spotlight on the sport in all corners of the globe, producing exciting and elite level hockey while also providing a strong commercial opportunity for the sport.
Typified by its “Make Your Mark” slogan, the Hockey World League invites every hockey playing nation to take part. It allows even the smallest ones to dream of writing their own chapter in hockey’s history books. It builds heroes as fresh talent bursts onto the scene. Established nations feel the heat as rising superpowers threaten to install a new world order.
