14 February 2023

Lausanne, Switzerland: The FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup South Africa 2023 came to a conclusion earlier this week as Austria men won a second world cup title in a row, while Netherlands women won their third title, equalling Germany’s record for most indoor hockey world championships in the women’s competition. There were plenty of surprises throughout the world cup as the unpredictable nature of indoor hockey shone through, which have led to shake-up in the indoor hockey world rankings.

In the men’s world rankings Austria (2450) retain the top spot in the rankings building on the 2018 world cup victory by winning a second straight title and building a big lead on the second place, which is occupied by Netherlands (1700), who were silver medalists at the recently concluded World Cup. Iran (1650) won their second straight bronze medal at the world cups and sit just 50 points behind Netherlands in third place. Belgium (1550) who narrowly missed out on the semi-finals spot in the World Cup stay 4th in the world rankings overtaking Czech Republic (1388) who finished in the 9th position that drops them from the 4th spot that they held before the start for the World Cup.

United States (982) two previous campaigns at the world cup had both ended in 11th place finishes, but they were fantastic in the 2023 edition finishing fourth and climbing up eleven spots to the 8th place in the world rankings. South Africa (1188) who lost to Netherlands in an entertaining quarterfinal contest, climbed four places to 7th in world ranking. Argentina (900) who finished 7th in their debut World Cup are also big gainers moving from their pre-tournament rank of 20th all the way up to 10th. New Zealand (300) who were unranked before the event made their debut at the world cup and make their first appearance on the world rankings in 23rd place.

To see the complete men’s FIH Indoor Hockey World Rankings, please click here.

In the women’s world rankings Netherlands (2350) who won their third indoor hockey world title leapfrog Germany who pulled out of the World Cup to claim the top spot in the rankings. Austria (1525) registered their best ever finish at the world cups claiming the silver medal and moved up three places to 4th in the world. Czech Republic (1813) claimed their second bronze medal at the world cups and moved up to 2nd in world ranking, ahead of Ukraine (1750) who retained their 3rd position in the world rankings.

South Africa (1210) had a stellar tournament narrowly missing out on the podium, but the fourth-place finish in the World Cup was enough to lift them up eight spots from 14th to 6th in the world rankings, ahead of Belgium (1188) in 7th who moved up six spots. The young USA (1075) team made a splash in the World Cup and move up four spots to 8th in the world. Canada (903) qualified for the quarterfinals in the world cups for the first time in their history and move up five spots to 11th in the world rankings. New Zealand (350) who were unranked before the event made their debut at the world cup and make their first appearance on the world rankings in 21st place.

To see the complete women’s FIH Indoor Hockey World Rankings, please click here.