Field Hockey World Cup Betting

Field hockey and Field hockey World Cup betting isn’t as famous as other sports on earth (if you want to bet on other sports – check the list of the best sports betting companies), but it’s a major sport with a huge fan base in many countries.

The games are full of action and fast-paced, meaning they translate into numerous wagering opportunities. Whether you’re new or experienced, you’ll find many options to choose from.

Many sportsbooks currently offer lots of field hockey markets and promotions, not to mention competitive field hockey betting odds.

If you’re looking for an interesting sport to wager on, look no further than field hockey. And the best part is that this field hockey guide has everything you need to know about the sport, including basic rules, format, field hockey World Cup betting strategy, markets and predictions. Read on to find out more.

Every four years, the greatest teams in the world play some of the most skilful, toughest and entertaining international games at the Field Hockey World Cup. This’s where the greatest talents meet, with top players from across the world competing to become the best of the best.

Sixteen teams qualify to compete in the FIH Hockey World Cup through qualification tournaments. The 2023 men’s Field Hockey World Cup tournament will be the 15th edition. In terms of format, the competition has three rounds: the first, classification, and second.

The first round comprises four pools A, B, C, and D. Each pool has four teams and rules of qualification include field goals scored, head-to-head result, goal difference, games won, goals for and points.

The classification round includes 9th-16th place quarter-finals, 13th-16th place classification, and 9th-12th place classification.

When it comes to the second round, the competition features different stages, including crossovers, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third and fourth place and the final. Here are additional tournament details.

• Dates: 13th-29th January
• Teams: 16 from 5 confederation
• Next tournament: 2026.

A field hockey game takes place on a grass or artificial turf pitch. Two teams, each with eleven players, compete on a court with almost the exact dimensions of a soccer field. Players play with an ivory ball using sticks or clubs with a swirling hook on one end.

The use of hands or feet to hit the ivory ball is forbidden for all players except the goalie. Also, the players can only hit the ivory ball with the sticks’ flat side.

Unlike ice hockey (read about ice hockey World Cup betting), field hockey isn’t physical. Players don’t come into bodily contact with their opponents, and if they do, it’ll lead to a foul.

There’re two types of fouls, which include a penalty or a free hit. These fouls are awarded depending on the severity or the position of the foul. Fouls can be awarded as a result of obstructing other players and using the stick dangerously. 

Divided into two 35-minute halves, the game’s main objective is to hit the ivory ball into the opponent’s goalpost. The game has a short break between the two halves, and when playing, the players are positioned as:

• 3 forwards
• 3 midfielders
• 4 defenders
• 1 goalie

Players can score goals through field goals, penalty strikes, or penalty corners. A penalty corner is only awarded when the defender intentionally hits the ivory ball over the line or after a foul in the shooting circle.

On the other hand, the match official awards a penalty strike if a player commits a foul inside the shooting circle or the attacking 25. Players can only score a field goal inside the shooting circle.

A minimum of two substitutions are allowed per team during a single game. The referee can remove any player for 2, 5, or 10 minutes or the remaining part of the game.

Each team has a group of five players, including forwards, midfielders, fullbacks, goalkeepers and opposing attacks. 

A sweeper is also available. All these groups of players are assigned different roles, ranging from blocking the shots of the opposition players to scoring goals. Players are allowed to employ different techniques and skills, which include trapping, shooting, passing and dribbling.

The field hockey betting strategy for field hockey is similar to that of other sports. To improve your chances of winning, you need to take a serious interest as the sport’s fan.

Find your favourite field hockey competition, like the World Cup, and learn all the ins and outs, including how the tournament works and the current form of teams. 

A strategy that has always worked for most players is to choose a few well-performing teams and focus on their games. Doing so allows you to understand the teams’ playing style, how they adjust to losses, how they perform at different levels and much more.

In terms of markets, there’re different ways to place wagers on a field hockey game. Some of the most common types of markets are:

Straight-up bet/Moneyline: For this type of bet, you’re simply betting on which team will win the match. Read more about moneyline betting.

Parlays: A parlay bet provides you with the opportunity to group different events and pick the loser or winner of each of the games in question. You’ll only win if all of your predictions are correct.

Spreads: In field hockey, a spread bet allows you to predict the number of points the winning team will lead by. For your spread bet to win, the match must be won with over four points.

In–play betting: Also known as live betting (read more about live betting strategy), in-play betting provides you with the opportunity to place a wager on a field hockey online event while it’s taking place.

Before placing any bet on a field hockey game, you must research. Researching does not mean that your bet will win, but it’ll go a long way to improving your chances of winning.

To make rewarding field hockey World Cup predictions, you need to keep into consideration different aspects such as recent form, head-to-head history and past performance. 

Also, keep an eye on individual players, especially their availability. Ideally, you should be following a few national field hockey teams so that you can understand how they play.

Keep in mind external factors that can affect the (FIH hockey teams, like weather and field conditions. By doing so, you’ll be able to make Field Hockey World Cup predictions that will bring great betting deals.