India will face arch-rivals Pakistan on August 19 in one of the most anticipated matches of the 2026 Hockey World Cup, with the men’s tournament set to begin in the Netherlands and Belgium on August 15.

The men’s and women’s Hockey World Cups will be played across venues in the Netherlands and Belgium, with the tournaments featuring a revamped format. Unlike previous editions, there will be no quarter-finals in the 2026 competition.

India’s men’s team has been drawn in Pool D alongside England, Pakistan and Wales. Harmanpreet Singh-led India will begin its campaign against Wales on August 15 before taking on England on August 17 and Pakistan on August 19.

India’s Group Stage Schedule

The opening matches will be particularly important under the new tournament structure. India will have to finish among the top two teams in Pool D to progress to the next stage.

The group-stage schedule is:

• August 15: India vs Wales

• August 17: India vs England

• August 19: India vs Pakistan

The clash against Pakistan is expected to attract considerable attention given the long-standing rivalry between the two hockey teams.

New Format Removes Quarter-Finals

The 2026 World Cup will feature 16 teams divided into four pools of four teams each.

The top two teams from every pool will advance to the second stage, taking the total number of teams into the next round to eight.

These eight teams will then be divided into two groups. The top two teams from each of those groups will qualify directly for the semi-finals.

This means teams cannot afford a poor start in the opening pool because results from the first stage can have consequences in the subsequent group phase.

India head coach Craig Fulton has also stressed the importance of finishing in the top two. The results against the teams that advance alongside India could become particularly significant when the second stage begins.

India’s World Cup Record

India has been a part of the Hockey World Cup since the inaugural edition in 1971.

The men's team has appeared at the tournament 15 times and has won the title once.

India's only World Cup triumph came in 1975, when the team defeated Pakistan in the final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The historic victory remains India's only men's Hockey World Cup title.

The team will now look to build on its recent international performances and challenge for another title under Harmanpreet Singh's leadership.

Women’s World Cup Begins August 15

The Women’s Hockey World Cup will also begin on August 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium.

The women's competition will follow the same broad 16-team structure, with four pools of four teams.

India has been placed in Pool D alongside China, England and South Africa.

The Indian women's team will begin its campaign against China on August 16. It will then face South Africa on August 18 before taking on England on August 20.

India's women's team therefore faces a demanding pool, with every match carrying significance under the revised qualification structure.

Women Yet to Win World Cup

India's women's hockey team made its World Cup debut in 1974.

Including the 2026 edition, the team has participated in the tournament nine times but is yet to win the title.

The women's team will therefore enter the Netherlands and Belgium tournament looking to create history and secure India's first Women's Hockey World Cup crown.

World Cup Schedule

The Hockey World Cup will run until August 30, with the semi-finals scheduled for August 28 and 29.

The men's bronze-medal match is scheduled for August 30 at 5:30 pm, followed by the men's final at 8 pm.

The women's final will be played on August 29 at 7:30 pm.

With India featuring in both competitions and the men's team facing Pakistan on August 19, the tournament is set to be a major test for Indian hockey on the international stage.