It came sooner than expected but the Netherlands and Germany will resume their bitter rivalry from the aftermath of the Paris Olympics when the two men’s sides kick off the 2024/25 FIH Pro League next month.
This year’s format has the traditional changes to its format as the global league continues to find ways to attract attention. The upcoming Hockey India League (HIL) is at the heart of those changes.
The match schedule will see matches played in December, then February and the remainder in June.
Either side, the revitalised HIL takes place and will hamper those players aiming to play for their country and earn extra income should they be drafted into the franchises. The HIL andscape will become clearer on Friday when more details emerge from a media conference in New Delhi.
But the winter looks set to be a busy one for some top stars. Take Germany women, who finish their Pro League commitments in mid December.
Should some players make the HIL teams, they could be playing until the beginning of February before Die Danas resume Pro League in mid February.
The Pro League strapline of ‘The League of the Best’ hardly rings true, with teams set to continue resting players and blooding future stars.
After a few seasons where only some teams hosted matches, all participating teams bar Ireland will host matches in 2024/25. Australia will also host the Pro League for the first time in two years when Sydney stages matches.
The Irish return to the global league after being relegated as France and New Zealand didn’t take up invitations.
Spain will rejoin Pro League after a first spell in the 2021/22 season, where the RedSticks finished fifth.
FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25 stages:
- Hangzhou, China (30 November – 5 December 2024)
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (30 November – 9 December 2024)
- Santiago del Estero, Argentina (10-15 December 2024)
- Sydney, Australia (4-9 February 2025)
- Argentina (19-24 February 2025) – venue tbc
- Bhubaneswar (tbc), India (15-25 February 2025)
- Valencia, Spain (7-8 June 2025)
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (7-15 June 2025)
- London, Great Britain (14-22 June 2025)
- Antwerp, Belgium (14-29 June 2025)
- Berlin, Germany (21-29 June 2024)
Full Pro League schedule here
