USA Finishes Historic First Day of Competition at 2026 FIH Para Hockey World Cup
Louvain-La-Neuve, BELGIUM – The moment USA’s Hockey ii (intellectual impairment) team stepped onto the pitch today at Louvain-La-Neuve HC, they were making history. The eight athletes lined up, stood for the national anthem, and then they were ready to play in match one of the first-ever FIH Para Hockey World Cup.
USA took on hosts Belgium first, who turned out to be an attacking force, scoring seven goals against the red, white and blue in the first half. Not to be discouraged, it was USA who came out of the halftime break with fire, with the first international goal for USA’s Hockey ii team coming from Nate Miller, a native of Hershey, Pa. and member of the PA Revs club team. Belgium would go on to win the match, 13-1, but it was a monumental day for both teams.
In their second match of the day, USA faced a similarly offensive-minded France side. USA scored once, a goal from Braden Jenkins of Fairview, Tenn. The game would end 13-1 in favor of France.
USA continues their Para Hockey World Cup journey tomorrow with two matches. The first is at 4:00 a.m. ET against Ireland, and the second at 9:00 a.m. ET against Germany. The matches are not livestreamed, but fans can follow along with the scores on USA Field Hockey’s Instagram, X, or on the FIH website. For more information, visit the event page.
A new chapter in hockey history began today as the inaugural FIH Para Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026 got underway, bringing together athletes from around the world to compete for the first-ever Para Hockey World Cup title.
From today until 24 August, Belgium and the Netherlands are hosting a landmark celebration of talent, determination, diversity and inclusion, as athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) take center stage on the international hockey stage.
For the first time, Para Hockey athletes have the opportunity to compete for the title of World Champions, marking a defining moment for the athletes taking part and the sport.
The tournament is a powerful expression of principles firmly anchored in the DNA and policies of the International Hockey Federation (FIH): that hockey should be accessible, inclusive and open to everyone.
