"VAN" (Sports Desk - 01.09.2026) :: With hockey’s biggest global showpiece now in the background, following Argentina women and Germany men winning the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, here’s a look at the updated world rankings, accounting for plenty of movement caused by the ups and downs of the World Cup matches..
Women’s Rankings
In the women’s rankings, despite registering their first loss in a World Cup since 2010, Netherlands' huge lead coming into the tournament sees them continue to hold on to the top spot with 4083 points.
Argentina’s triumph sees them close the gap on Netherlands’ lead as they further tighten their grip on second place with 3757 points. Belgium continue to hold third place with 3494 points, following their historic return to the World Cup podium after 48 years!
Despite falling short of their medal expectations, China remain the highest ranked team from Asia, coming in fourth with 3182 points. Chasing behind are the triumvirate of European sides, with Spain (3089) in fifth, Germany (3063) in sixth and England (3044) in seventh, with just 45 points separating the sides.
India’s fifth place finish was their best at the World Cup in 52 years, and sees them climb up a spot into eighth place with 2938 points, leapfrogging Australia who find themselves ninth with 2812 points. Rounding out the top-10 are the United States (2612) who finished 10th at the World Cup, which included some impressive performances like holding the eventual champions Argentina to a draw in their opening match.
Japan (2476), New Zealand (2446), Ireland (2426) and Scotland (2415) follow behind placed from eleventh to fourteenth respectively, separated by a total of 61 world ranking points! Chile come in fifteenth with 2104 points, followed by France (2094) and Korea (2066) — two teams that did not qualify for the World Cup. South Africa in eighteenth place, with 2050 points, are the final of the World Cup participants, followed by Italy (1995) and Uruguay (1976) rounding out the top-20.
Men’s Rankings
In the men’s rankings at the top spot following their second successive World Cup triumph are Germany with 3720 points. The Honamas secured the top spot following their victory in the final, having started the match day in second position. Germany’s triumph moved Belgium (3692) down into second place, after their campaign ended in a seventh place finish at the World Cup.
Australia (3583) find themselves in third place, with their victory over England in the 5th place classification match seeing them climb up three spots, showcasing how competitive the fight for top world rankings remain. Argentina’s (3512) win over Netherlands in the bronze medal match, lifted them to fourth place in the world ranking table, ahead of the Dutch who are now fifth with 3481 points.
Spain, who fell just short of winning their first ever men’s Hockey World Cup title, are in sixth place with 3473 points, followed by England in seventh with 3431 points. From Germany in first to England in seventh, the teams are separated by merely 289 points!
India (3072) remain the highest ranked Asian team in the men’s rankings, and find themselves in eighth place, where they started the competition, and also coincides with their classification at the World Cup. New Zealand, who finished ninth in the World Cup, follow behind India in the world rankings, with 2965 points placing them ninth in the world, and France round out the top-10 with 2841 points.
Ireland stand at the cusp of the top-10, finding themselves in eleventh with 2645 points, with Pakistan (2561) in twelfth. South Africa’s rousing performances at the World Cup sees them continue to remain the highest ranked African side in the world, in thirteenth place with 2531 points.
Scotland (2371) are the highest ranked side in the world to have missed out on the World Cup, ranked fourteenth in the world, followed by Malaysia (2346) and Egypt (2308). Rounding out the top-20 are Japan (2300) in seventeenth, Wales (2299) in eighteenth, Canada (2200) in nineteenth and China (2131) in twentieth.
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