How to Watch Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup in Ireland [2026]

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The 2026 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup is the 16th edition of the sport’s biggest event, running from August 15 to August 30, 2026.

For the first time, the tournament is jointly hosted across two countries. Matches are split between the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium and Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands.

It’s a huge occasion for Irish hockey fans: Ireland’s Men’s team are back at the World Cup for the first time in eight years. It’s their 4th appearance in the competition’s history, and have been drawn in Pool C alongside Australia, Spain, and South Africa.

Germany enter the tournament as defending champions, while hosts Belgium arrive as the world’s top-ranked side and one of the favourites on home soil.

You can watch the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup in Ireland free on RTÉ Player, BBC iPlayer or stream the full tournament on Watch.Hockey, However, use a VPN to access live coverage on platforms except RTE Player.

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Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Key Dates & Timeline

• Tournament Dates: August 15 – August 30, 2026
• Ireland’s Opener: Australia vs Ireland, Sunday, August 16, 2026
• Venues: Belfius Hockey Arena, Wavre, Belgium & Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen, Netherlands
• Format: 16 teams, pool stage followed by a cross-pool regrouping stage, then knockouts

How to Watch the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup in Ireland Live

RTÉ2 is the exclusive Irish broadcaster for Ireland’s matches at the 2026 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup. All Ireland games air live for free, along with selected marquee matches from the rest of the tournament.

You can also stream Ireland’s matches for free via the RTÉ Player, no subscription required, just a free RTÉ account.

Here’s how to watch the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup in Ireland on RTÉ Player:

Step 1: Go to RTÉ Player and click Login.

Step 2: Click Sign in 

Step 3: Enter your email address and Passward.

Step 4: Once logged in, go back to home and click on the Live tab at the top of the page

Step 5: Select RTE 2 and search for the FIH Hockey World Cup and enjoy streaming!

How to Watch FIH Hockey World Cup in Ireland on Mobile

Another free way to watch Hockey World Cup is Channel 4 Sport on YouTube. It provides live and free coverage of selected tournament fixtures, with a focus on England and Wales matches.

However, Channel 4 Sport’s YouTube streams are geo-restricted in Ireland. Therefore, you must use VPN, like , connected to a UK server to access the  matches live.

Here’s how you can watch FIH Hockey World Cup in Ireland on Mobile:

Step 1: Download and install the Surfshark VPN App. Connect to UK server

Step 2: Open Youtube app or website

Step 3: Search for Channel 4 Sport

Step 4: Select the channel and go to live

Step 5: Select the broadcast

Step 6: Enjoy free live streaming!

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Other Free Options to Watch FIH Hockey World Cup in Ireland

Here are some other ways to watch Hockey World Cup in Ireland for free:

1. BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer is broadcasting selected FIH Hockey World Cup matches live and free across BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC iPlayer.

However, BBC iPlayer’s streaming content is geo-restricted to the UK. Therefore, you will need a reliable VPN, like Surfshark, connected to a UK server to access the platform and watch the matches live.

Read More: Watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland

2. Watch.Hockey

Watch.Hockey is streaming every FIH Hockey World Cup match live and on-demand globally as the official digital platform.

However, streaming  access on Watch.Hockey may be subject to regional blackout restrictions depending on local broadcast rights. Therefore, you will need a reliable VPN to bypass restrictions and stream the entire tournament live. Surfshark is our #1 choice.

Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Schedule

Here is the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 schedule, in Irish time and date.

Ireland Enter as Underdogs After an Eight-Year Absence

Ireland’s Men’s team return to the World Cup stage for only the 4th time in the tournament’s history, and their first appearance since 2018. They’ve been drawn in Pool C alongside Australia, Spain, and South Africa, opening their campaign against Australia on August 16.

Defending champions Germany and tournament favourites Belgium, the world’s top-ranked side and co-hosts, headline the rest of the field, alongside past winners Netherlands and Australia.

Other Sports Events to Watch in Ireland

If you’re a sports fan, here’s a list of other major sporting events you can watch in Ireland.

• Watch the FIFA Club World Cup in Ireland
• Watch the English Premier League in Ireland
• Watch the US Open in Ireland
• Watch UFC in Ireland

FAQs – Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026

1. When and where is the 2026 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup?

The tournament runs from August 15 to August 30, 2026, jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, with matches at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre and Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen.

2. How can I watch Ireland’s matches for free?

Every Ireland Men’s match is shown live and free on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player.

3. How many teams are competing?

Sixteen teams are competing across five confederations, playing a pool stage followed by a cross-pool regrouping stage and knockouts.

4. Who are the defending champions?

Germany are the defending Men’s World Cup champions, having won their third title in 2023.

5. Which pool is Ireland in?

Ireland’s Men’s team are in Pool C alongside Australia, Spain, and South Africa.

Conclusion

The 2026 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup runs from August 15 to August 30 across Belgium and the Netherlands, with Ireland’s Men’s team making a long-awaited return to the World Cup stage in Pool C against Australia, Spain, and South Africa.

You can watch all of Ireland’s matches for free on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player, or follow the full tournament on Watch.Hockey. For bonus free coverage from other broadcasters, a VPN like Surfshark will get you there.