The International Hockey Federation -FIH- approaches the men’s and women’s World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands with two developments that expand its sporting and commercial structure. While the leading national teams compete from 15 to 30 August, the federation will stage the first Para Hockey World Cup for athletes with intellectual disabilities from 20 to 24 August. At the same time, it has entered into a multi-year agreement with Indian conglomerate JSW Group, which becomes an FIH Global Partner and will begin this new phase by supporting the 2026 World Cup.
The two developments represent different forms of growth. The new championship adds a format developed over more than a decade to the international calendar, while the commercial agreement brings the backing of one of India’s largest business groups. JSW was already a global partner of the men’s World Cup held in Odisha in 2023, through a collaboration linked to that tournament. It now becomes an FIH Global Partner under a multi-year agreement beginning with the 2026 World Cup.
A World Cup after 14 years of development
The Para Hockey World Cup will bring together 16 national teams from four continents, divided into two pools and made up of athletes with intellectual disabilities. The mixed-gender teams will compete in a six-a-side format, a smaller version of traditional hockey. The tournament is the result of a 14-year development process supported by national associations, clubs, coaches, families and volunteers. According to the FIH’s latest participation survey, more than 30 national associations had introduced Para Hockey programmes before the creation of its first World Cup.
Belgium, Italy, Germany, France, Pakistan, Zambia, Ireland and the USA will compete in Pool A, while the Netherlands, Spain, Bulgaria, England, India, Malaysia, Chile and Argentina make up Pool B. Ireland received a late invitation following Paraguay’s withdrawal. Matches will be played until 23 August at Myra Hockey Club in Amstelveen and Louvain-la-Neuve Hockey Club, before the final day moves to the Wagener Stadium and the Belfius Hockey Arena, the same venues being used for the men’s and women’s World Cup. “This tournament is about much more than medals. It is about inspiring people, challenging perceptions and showing what is possible when every athlete is given the opportunity to compete, excel and inspire,” said FIH President Tayyab Ikram.
From World Cup sponsor to global partner
The new contract makes JSW an FIH Global Partner for several years and covers some of the sport’s most prestigious international events. The joint World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands will be the first major event under the agreement, although neither party has disclosed its exact duration, financial value or the other competitions it will support. Its scope is therefore broader than the 2023 sponsorship, when JSW was presented only as a global partner of the men’s World Cup held in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.
The group’s involvement in hockey is not limited to those two World Cups. Its sports division owns Soorma Hockey Club, which has men’s and women’s teams in the Hockey India League. In their first season, the men finished third and the women were runners-up. JSW Foundation also entered into a partnership with the Asian Hockey Federation -AHF- in 2023 to increase women’s participation as players, umpires, technical officials and administrators in India and other Asian countries. The new FIH agreement takes that presence from domestic and continental hockey into a more stable international partnership.
A $25 billion conglomerate
JSW Group currently reports revenue of $25 billion, employs more than 37,000 people and operates across more than ten sectors. Its activities include steel, energy, cement, infrastructure, automotive manufacturing, paints, defence and venture capital, with a presence in India, the USA, South America, Europe and Africa. Its size and diversification illustrate the financial capacity and international reach of the FIH’s new partner, although the value of the agreement has not been disclosed.
Established in 2012, JSW Sports has built a portfolio spanning professional and Olympic sport. It owns football club Bengaluru FC, Pro Kabaddi League side Haryana Steelers, cricket franchise Pretoria Capitals and Soorma Hockey Club. It also shares ownership of the Delhi Capitals men’s and women’s teams equally with GMR Sports, competing in the Indian Premier League and Women’s Premier League respectively. The Inspire Institute of Sport forms part of its structure, while its Sports Excellence Programme has supported athletes including Neeraj Chopra and Sakshi Malik. Through JSW Inspire, the group has also provided apparel for the Indian delegation at Birmingham 2022, the Hangzhou Asian Games and Paris 2024. The FIH is therefore adding a partner with financial strength, experience in major competitions, club management and high-performance programmes, while opening its leading global event to athletes who previously had no world title to compete for.
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