[1] Defending champions the Netherlands won the tournament for an eighth time after defeating Ireland 6–0 in the final, who claimed their first World Cup medal.

Also chosen to host the 2015 EuroHockey Nations Championship for men and women, the tournament will be held at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre within the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, England.

[9] This venue is part of the legacy from the 2012 Summer Olympics as the Riverbank Arena, where the field hockey events took place, which was scaled down and moved to its current location at Lee Valley Park.

Due to the increase to 16 participating teams, the new qualification process was announced in July 2015 by the International Hockey Federation.

In addition, the 10/11 highest placed teams at the Semifinals of the 2016–17 FIH Hockey World League not already qualified entered the tournament.