The Hockey World Cup 2026 begins on August 15 in Belgium and the Netherlands, with India’s men facing Pakistan on August 19 and the women opening against China on August 16.

The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 will begin on August 15, with Belgium and the Netherlands jointly hosting the men’s and women’s tournaments. The competition will run through August 30 for the men, while the women’s final is scheduled for August 29. Both tournaments feature 16 teams divided into four pools of four.

India will have two teams in action, with the men drawn in Pool D alongside England, Pakistan and Wales. The women are also in Pool D, alongside China, England and South Africa.

India Men Face Wales

The Indian men’s team will begin its campaign against Wales on August 15 at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands. The match is scheduled for 4.30 pm local time, or 8 pm IST.

India will then face England on August 17 before taking on Pakistan in one of the most anticipated pool matches of the tournament on August 19.

The India-Pakistan match is scheduled for August 19 at 6.30 pm IST. The FIH schedule lists the fixture at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen.

Pakistan Clash On August 19

The India-Pakistan contest will be particularly important because both teams are in a demanding Pool D. England, India, Pakistan and Wales will compete for the two places available in the next stage.

India’s campaign therefore leaves little room for complacency. The team will face Wales first, followed by England, before meeting Pakistan in its final pool match.

The tournament schedule also confirms that Pakistan will open against England on August 15 before playing Wales on August 17.

Women Open Against China

The Indian women’s team will start its World Cup campaign against China on August 16. The match is scheduled at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen.

India will then play South Africa on August 18 before completing the opening phase against England on August 20. The women’s Pool D also features China, England and South Africa.

The women's tournament will conclude with the final on August 29 in Amsterdam.

New Format Changes Route

The 2026 World Cup introduces a different competition format. There will be no conventional quarter-finals.

The top two teams from each of the four opening pools will progress to a second group stage. Teams from Pools A and D will form Pool E, while teams from Pools B and C will form Pool F. The results against the opponent carried over from the first phase will also count in the second stage.

The top two teams from Pools E and F will qualify for the semi-finals. The new system makes every pool match important because results can influence the standings in the next phase.

India’s World Cup Record

The Indian men’s team has a long history in the competition and won its only World Cup title in 1975. India defeated Pakistan in the final in Kuala Lumpur to claim the championship.

The 2026 tournament offers another opportunity for India to improve on its recent World Cup performances. The team will have to negotiate a competitive Pool D before attempting to progress through the new second-stage format.

The Indian women’s team, meanwhile, continues its search for a maiden World Cup title. India’s best World Cup finish came in 1974, when the team finished fourth.

Final On August 30

The men’s World Cup final will be played on August 30 in Wavre, Belgium. The women’s final will take place a day earlier in Amsterdam. The two semi-finals in each competition will be distributed between the two host venues.

With the tournament beginning on August 15, attention will now turn to India’s opening fixtures and the demanding Pool D schedule. The biggest early attraction will be the Hockey World Cup 2026 clash between India and Pakistan on August 19, while the Indian women’s team begins its campaign against China on August 16.