- News release
World Cup stars return to the Staatsloterij Hoofdklasse
The Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium has come to an end. Many Dutch and international players who have been in action at the World Cup over the past few weeks will be facing each other again in the Hoofdklasse in just 27 days’ time. The new season begins on Sunday 27 September.
After weeks of international hockey, attention is now slowly but surely shifting back to the clubs. The internationals will soon be rejoining their teams, which have already been preparing for a new season in the Dutch top flight for several weeks.
From this season onwards, that league will continue under a new name. Staatsloterij is the new title sponsor of the Hoofdklasse, which will henceforth be known as the Staatsloterij Hoofdklasse. The fixture list was announced three weeks ago.
The transition from the World Cup to the league is a smooth one. Many players who represented their countries in the Netherlands and Belgium will be seen on Dutch pitches every week from the end of September.
International players who were competing together for the titles during the World Cup will sometimes find themselves facing each other again in the Hoofdklasse. Top foreign players such as Belgium’s Charlotte Englebert (Den Bosch), England’s Zach Wallace (Bloemendaal) and Spain’s Borja Lacalle (ORANJE-ROOD) have played against the Dutch national team in recent weeks, but are now returning to their Dutch clubs.
It is precisely this mix of national and international talent that makes the Hoofdklasse so special. The league has been regarded as the strongest in the world for years. In every match round, internationals, experienced club players and young talents take to the pitch together.
From the very first round, the battle for the top spots begins. Which clubs will emerge as title contenders this season? Who will ultimately qualify for the play-offs? And which players who impressed at the World Cup will also make their mark at their clubs?
On Sunday 27 September, we’ll get the first answers. That’s when the new season of the Staatsloterij Hoofdklasse kicks off. Check out the full fixture list and follow the Staatsloterij Hoofdklasse via the website and social media channels to stay up to date with the new season.
