Hockey World Cup Winners List: Champions, Runners Up and Third-Place Teams From 1971 To 2023

The Men's Hockey World Cup, founded in 1971, was staged once in two or three years till 1978, but has since been staged once in a four year cycle from the 1982 edition.

Started as a 10-team tournament in the first edition, the Men's Hockey World Cup has expanded over the years and is now contested by 16 nations from across continents.

The 1971 edition featured 10 teams, while the 1978 edition saw 14 teams battle for the title. The other editions including the most recent featured 16 teams and the remaining ten editions featured 12 teams.

Among the 15 editions of the Hockey World Cup held so far, only six of the 27 nations have won the title with Pakistan being the most successful side, having won the coveted title four times and finishing runners up two times.

Netherlands, Germany and Australia are the next best teams, having won the title 3 times each. The Dutch have finished runners up four times and finished in third place three times. The Aussies have finished runners up two times and third five times.

The Germans, who earlier competed as West Germany, have finished as runners up twice and third place four times. Belgium and India are the nex best teams with one title each.

Here is a look at the Men's Hockey World Cup Winners List along with Runners Up, Third-place and Fourth-place teams from 1971 to 2023:

Hockey World Cup Winners and Runners Up List

Edition	Champion	Score	Runner Up
2023	Germany	3-3 (PS 5-4)	Belgium
2018	Belgium	0-0 (PS 3-2)	Netherlands
2014	Australia	6-1	Netherlands
2010	Australia	2-1	Germany
2006	Germany	4-3	Australia
2002	Germany	2-1	Australia
1998	Netherlands	3-2	Spain
1994	Pakistan	1-1 (PS 4-3)	Netherlands
1990	Netherlands	3-1	Pakistan
1986	Australia	2-1	England
1982	Pakistan	3-1	West Germany
1978	Pakistan	3-2	Netherlands
1975	India	1-0	Pakistan
1973	Netherlands	2-2 (PS 4-2)	India
1971	Pakistan	1-0	Spain

PS - Penalty Shootout

Men's Hockey World Cup Third and Fourth-Place Teams

Edition	3rd Place Team	Score	4th Place Team
2023	Netherlands	3-1	Australia
2018	Australia	8-1	England
2014	Argentina	2-0	England
2010	Netherlands	4-3	England
2006	Spain	3-2 AET	South Korea
2002	Netherlands	2-1 AET	South Korea
1998	Germany	1-0	Australia
1994	Australia	5-2	Germany
1990	Australia	2-1 AET	West Germany
1986	West Germany	3-2 AET	Soviet Union
1982	Australia	4-2	Netherlands
1978	Australia	4-3	West Germany
1975	West Germany	4-0	Malaysia
1973	West Germany	1-0	Pakistan
1971	India	2-1 AET	Kenya

AET - After Extra Time; PS - Penalty Shootout

Men's Hockey World Cup Most Successful Teams

Winners: Pakistan - 4 (1971, 1978, 1982, 1994), Netherlands - (1973, 1990, 1998), Australia - 3 (1986, 2010, 2014), Germany - 3 (2002, 2006, 2023), India - 1 (1975), Belgium - 1 (2018)

Runners Up: Netherlands - 4 (1978, 1994, 2014, 2018), Pakistan - 2 (1975, 1990), Australia - 2 (2002, 2006), Germany - 2 (1982, 2002), Spain - 2 (1971, 1998), India - 1 (1973), England - 1 (1986), Belgium - 1 (2023)

Finalists: Netherlands (7), Pakistan (6), Australia (5), Germany (5), India (2), Spain (2), Belgium (2), England (1)

Third Place Teams: Australia - 5 (1978, 1982, 1990, 1994, 2018), Germany - 4 (1973, 1975, 1986, 1998), Netherlands - 3 (2002, 2010, 2023), Argentina - 1 (2014), India - 1 (1971), Spain - 1 (2006)

Fourth Place Teams: Germany - 3 (1978, 1990, 1994), England - 3 (2010, 2014, 2018), South Korea - 2 (2002, 2006), Australia - 2 (1998, 2023), Netherlands - 1 (1982), Pakistan - 1 (1973), Kenya - 1 (1971), Malaysia - 1 (1975), Soviet Union - 1 (1986)