Hockey FIH Pro League 2025 - 2026 Road to LA 2028

[LDOG 2,472]

After reading the qualification system document and assuming Argentina (M or W) takes a pro league quota, then: 

 

Case a: if USA wins pan american tournament and ARG finishes 2nd, then 3rd placed team doesn't take the continental quota. It's reallocated to world qualifiers.

 

Case b: if ARG wins pan american tournament and USA finishes 2nd, then 3rd placed does take the quota.

 

 

Did I understand correctly? 

Honestly don't know why FIH wanted a different criteria for these two cases.

Edited December 11, 2025 by LDOG

[JoshMartini007 2,789]

2 hours ago, LDOG said:

After reading the qualification system document and assuming Argentina (M or W) takes a pro league quota, then: 

 

Case a: if USA wins pan american tournament and ARG finishes 2nd, then 3rd placed team doesn't take the continental quota. It's reallocated to world qualifiers.

 

Case b: if ARG wins pan american tournament and USA finishes 2nd, then 3rd placed does take the quota.

 

 

Did I understand correctly? 

Honestly don't know why FIH wanted a different criteria for these two cases.

No, in both cases the United States will qualify and the Pan American quota will go to the world qualifiers

Edited December 11, 2025 by JoshMartini007

[LDOG 2,472]

12 minutes ago, JoshMartini007 said:

No, in both cases the United States will qualify and the Pan American quota will go to the world qualifiers

Aren't these two statements in the document contradictory then?

 

"The highest placed team in each of the five continental championships that is not already qualified as host or through the FIH Pro League will earn one quota place for their NOC"  

 

"Should the host nation be the highest placed at the 20th Pan American Games in 2027 in the men's/women's competition, the second placed nation does not subsequently qualify, and instead the quota place will be allocated through the FIH Olympic Qualification Tournaments below."

 

 

[JoshMartini007 2,789]

4 minutes ago, LDOG said:

Aren't these two statements in the document contradictory then?

 

"The highest placed team in each of the five continental championships that is not already qualified as host or through the FIH Pro League will earn one quota place for their NOC"  

 

"Should the host nation be the highest placed at the 20th Pan American Games in 2027 in the men's/women's competition, the second placed nation does not subsequently qualify, and instead the quota place will be allocated through the FIH Olympic Qualification Tournaments below."

 

 

From my experience it is better to go by what they intended rather than what was written. The point being is that should the United States be in a position to take the Pan American quota, the quota will be reallocated to the world qualifiers.

 

It can be a bit frustrating, but these documents aren't exactly written to define what happens in every scenario, even though they should. If someone from the IOC/sport federations are here, I'd love to proof read your documents . 

[LDOG 2,472]

3 minutes ago, JoshMartini007 said:

From my experience it is better to go by what they intended rather than what was written. The point being is that should the United States be in a position to take the Pan American quota, the quota will be reallocated to the world qualifiers.

 

It can be a bit frustrating, but these documents aren't exactly written to define what happens in every scenario, even though they should. If someone from the IOC/sport federations are here, I'd love to proof read your documents . 

IDK this seems like a big mistake on their part. They should have excluded Pan America from the first clause. 

 

And also shoulda clarify if "highest placed" in the second statement means only champion or "highest placed not counting possible pro league qualified teams". 

 

 

[LDOG 2,472]

But yeah, as you said, their intention (if I have to guess) probably is to prevent Pan America from having 3 teams without going through the world oqt. 

They were generous with the world cup qualification because it's in europe and with 16 teams but they won't be as much with their prime event.

 

Anyway, this doc is terribly written and could bring problems without an update.

[Dolby 755]

If Australia and New Zealand earn quotas through Pro League, then does that mean 3rd placed team from Oceania Cup takes quota? 

[Rafa Maciel 1,671]

5 minutes ago, Dolby said:

If Australia and New Zealand earn quotas through Pro League, then does that mean 3rd placed team from Oceania Cup takes quota? 

hmm - aren't Australia and New Zealand the only nations that actually compete in the Oceania Cup?

[Dragon 2,057]

2 hours ago, Rafa Maciel said:

hmm - aren't Australia and New Zealand the only nations that actually compete in the Oceania Cup?

Some of the small nations have competed in the past but usually lost 30-0 to the Aussies

[JoshMartini007 2,789]

10 hours ago, LDOG said:

IDK this seems like a big mistake on their part. They should have excluded Pan America from the first clause. 

 

And also shoulda clarify if "highest placed" in the second statement means only champion or "highest placed not counting possible pro league qualified teams". 

 

 

Yeah, it's quite an oversight. I can look past unlikely scenarios, for example what happens if the United States wins the 2026-27 Pro League, but Argentina qualifying through the Women's Pro League and winning gold at the Pan Am Games with the United States finishing second is a very likely scenario, possibly as high as a 50% chance.