EuroHockey Championship 2025: European Hockey Festival in Mönchengladbach

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European hockey elite heads to Germany. The prestigious tournament promises ten days of thrilling contests with direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup.

European field hockey prepares for one of the year's most significant tournaments. From August 8-17, 2025, the prestigious EuroHockey Championship will take place in Mönchengladbach, Germany, where the jubilee 20th men's and 17th women's tournaments will combine into a unique sporting event.

At the Warsteiner HockeyPark, 16 national teams will compete for the European crown and crucial direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup. The Netherlands will defend their double triumph from the previous championship, while host Germany will attempt to succeed in front of their home fans. Up to 100,000 spectators will witness 40 matches in a hockey festival that returns to Mönchengladbach for the third time in history.

Double Serving of European Hockey

EuroHockey Championship 2025 offers a unique format where men's and women's tournaments run simultaneously at the same venue, creating the atmosphere of a continental hockey festival.

The men's tournament (August 8-16) represents the jubilee 20th edition of the European championship, where the Netherlands defends two consecutive titles. For the winners, this is the last European championship before the 2026 World Cup, adding another significant dimension to the tournament. Direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands makes every match a crucial battle.

The women's tournament (August 9-17) brings the 17th edition of the European championship with the Dutch women as four-time defending champions. Their dominance in recent years makes them the main favorites, but the German women, who finished third at the previous championship, will want to leverage their home advantage. The winners earn a valuable spot at the 2026 World Cup.

Mönchengladbach: Traditional Host

The Warsteiner HockeyPark in Mönchengladbach provides an ideal environment for the premier European tournament. The city hosts the European championship for the third time in history, underlining its significance for European field hockey and the quality of available infrastructure.

The expected attendance of up to 100,000 fans throughout the tournament demonstrates the growing popularity of this sport in Germany. Mönchengladbach has established itself as a historically significant hockey city with a modern stadium and top-class facilities for both players and spectators.

At the last European championship in Mönchengladbach, the Netherlands won titles in both men's and women's categories, while German women finished third and men fourth. These results create an interesting starting position for this year's battles.

Tournament Format and System

The tournament employs a proven format that combines group stage with knockout matches, ensuring fair determination of European champions.

In the group stage, teams are divided into two groups of four teams each. Every team plays three matches in their group, resulting in 12 group matches for men and 12 for women. This system allows all teams to showcase their potential and fight for advancement.

The knockout phase brings dramatic cross semi-finals, where the first team from Group A faces the second team from Group B and vice versa. Defeated semi-finalists don't leave empty-handed—they compete for bronze medals in the third-place playoff. Semi-final winners clash in the grand final for the European crown and the continent's most valuable trophy.

Teams finishing third and fourth in the groups will play for final rankings 5th-8th, ensuring meaningful matches for all participants until the tournament's end.

Crucial World Cup 2026 Qualification

The European Championship 2025 gains even greater significance through direct qualification of winners to the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands. This opportunity makes every match potentially decisive for teams' futures.

For men, a special rule applies: if Belgium, Spain, or the Netherlands win the tournament, or if two of these nations meet in the final, the highest-placed team outside these countries qualifies for the World Cup. This provision ensures fair distribution of qualification spots.

A similar system operates for women, where if Belgium, the Netherlands, or Germany win the tournament, or if these three countries reach the semi-finals, the highest-placed team outside these favorites qualifies. These qualification nuances add strategic dimension to the tournament and create opportunities for less-favored teams.

Path to Participation

Participation in the EuroHockey Championship was secured by the 16 best European teams through a strict qualification process. Six teams in each category earned direct qualification from the 2023 European Championship based on their results.

The remaining spots were distributed through qualifying tournaments. For men, qualifications were held in Vienna (Austria) and Dublin (Ireland), while women's teams fought for advancement in Glasgow (Scotland) and Douai (France). This system ensured participation of the best European teams and created balanced competition.

Parallel Para-Hockey Event

Simultaneously with the main tournament, the EuroHockey ID Championships—European Para-Hockey Championship—will take place at GHTC Mönchengladbach near the main stadium.

The para-hockey tournament's climax will be the final on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at SparkassenPark, which organizers describe as "the absolute highlight for all participants." This parallel event underscores the inclusive character of modern sport and extends the hockey festival's reach to the broader community.

Expectations and Predictions

EuroHockey Championship 2025 promises exceptional levels of competition with a combination of traditional hockey powerhouses and ambitious challengers. The Netherlands enters as the main favorite in both categories, but Germany's home advantage and other teams' desire for World Cup qualification create conditions for unpredictable results.

The tournament format combining group stage with direct knockout battles ensures every match has significance and can influence final standings. Direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup adds another layer of intensity to every encounter.

EuroHockey Championship 2025 in Mönchengladbach represents a unique opportunity to watch the best European field hockey in action, as teams battle not only for continental prestige but also for tickets to this sport's biggest global event.

Photo source: Concho Valley Homepage

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