New Zealand Announces Black Sticks Men’s Squad for 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup
Sports Correspondent; Imran Sohail
Hockey New Zealand has announced the Black Sticks Men’s squad for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, which will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from 15 to 30 August.
New Zealand qualified for the tournament after winning the 2025 Oceania Cup and has been placed in Pool D alongside the Netherlands, Argentina, and Japan. All of the team’s group-stage matches will be played at Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.
Head coach Greg Nicol has selected a balanced squad featuring experienced internationals and emerging talent. He praised the players for their commitment and preparation ahead of one of the biggest tournaments in international hockey.
Nicol said the squad has worked hard over the past year to improve its performances and develop a consistent style of play. He added that the World Cup presents a valuable opportunity for the team to compete against the world’s top hockey nations.
The Black Sticks will complete their final preparations before travelling to Europe, where they will begin their campaign against host nation the Netherlands.
New Zealand Black Sticks Men’s World Cup Squad
- Aidan Sarikaya
- Benji Culhane
- Brad Rothwell
- Charlie Morrison
- Dane Lett
- Dom Dixon
- Dylan Thomas
- Finn Ward
- George Baker
- Isaac Houlbrooke
- James Hickson
- Joe Morrison
- Kane Russell
- Matt Ruetsch
- Nic Woods
- Ryan Parr
- Sam Lane
- Scott Boyde
- Simon Yorston
- Tim Neild
New Zealand Match Schedule (NZ Time)
- 17 August: vs Netherlands – 2:00 AM
- 18 August: vs Japan – 7:30 PM
- 20 August: vs Argentina – 10:30 PM
