The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has released the schedule for the 2026 Hockey World Cup, which will take place in Belgium and the Netherlands. The tournament will feature both men’s and women’s teams and is set to be held from August 15 to 30. India’s men’s hockey team will commence their journey in the tournament with a match against Wales, while the women’s team will face China in their opening game. A notable highlight for the men’s side is their upcoming match against Pakistan during the group phase.

India Men’s Team Schedule

India’s men’s hockey team, which is placed in Pool D, will start their World Cup campaign on August 15 against Wales at 16:30 IST. This match will occur at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen. On August 17, the team will meet England at 18:30 IST, and they are scheduled to compete against their long-time rivals Pakistan on August 19 at 18:30 IST. Historically, India’s men’s team has participated in all previous 15 editions of the Hockey World Cup, securing their only championship title in 1975.

India Women’s Team Schedule

Similarly, India’s women’s team, also in Pool D, will begin their World Cup journey with a match against China on August 16 at 16:30 IST. Their subsequent match will be against South Africa on August 18 at 18:30 IST, concluding the group stage with a face-off against England on August 20 at 18:30 IST. The women’s team qualified for the World Cup after finishing as runners-up in the qualifiers held in Hyderabad earlier this month and is yet to achieve a World Cup title.

Context of the Tournament

The 2026 Hockey World Cup marks a significant event in the international hockey calendar, with Germany’s men’s team entering as the defending champions, and the Netherlands’ women’s team as the current title holders. This tournament represents an opportunity for participating teams to compete at the highest level and for India, particularly, to enhance their standing in the sport.

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