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.

Hockey India's decision to switch the national team's traditional blue jersey to orange for the upcoming FIH Men's and Women's Hockey World Cups has triggered debate, with former India captain Viren Rasquinha openly questioning the move. Hockey India unveiled the new jerseys ahead of the two major tournaments, with both the men's and women's teams set to wear the changed colour scheme on the world stage. The men's Hockey World Cup will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 14 to 30, while the women's tournament is scheduled from August 15 to 30. The launch was meant to mark the beginning of India's World Cup campaign, but much of the conversation quickly shifted towards the jersey itself. Rasquinha, who represented India for several years, said the national hockey team's identity and legacy had traditionally been associated with blue and questioned the reasoning behind replacing it with orange.

Expressing his disappointment on X, Rasquinha acknowledged that Hockey India had done several positive things for the sport but called the latest jersey decision “embarrassing”. He recalled wearing the blue India jersey with pride during his playing career and argued that supporters also associate the national hockey side with that colour. “The legacy & identity of the Indian team has always been BLUE,” Rasquinha wrote while questioning the logic behind orange. His comments have added another dimension to the buildup for a tournament where the Indian men's team will be attempting to end a long wait for another World Cup title. India have been drawn in Pool D alongside England, Wales and arch-rivals Pakistan. The country last won the men's Hockey World Cup in 1975, defeating Pakistan 2-1 in the final. Since then, another world title has remained out of reach. India finished ninth when the tournament was held in Bhubaneswar in 2023, but the team enters the latest edition with stronger expectations following a successful run in major international competitions, including back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, an Asia Cup title and two Asian Champions Trophy triumphs.

The Indian women's team will also enter the World Cup hoping to make an impact. India are placed in Pool D and will begin their campaign against China on August 16, before facing South Africa and England. Captain Salima Tete said ahead of the team's departure that the squad was looking forward to the challenge after a productive training block. She said the immediate focus would be on carrying that preparation into practice matches and then into the World Cup itself, with the opening fixture against China expected to provide an important early test. While both Indian teams are now concentrating on their preparations, the India hockey orange jersey debate has ensured an unusual backdrop to their World Cup campaigns. Rasquinha's criticism centres not on the design alone but on the larger question of sporting identity and whether a colour closely associated with a national team over generations should be changed. Hockey India, based on the information available here, has not provided a detailed explanation for why orange was chosen over the familiar blue. With the World Cups approaching, attention will eventually shift towards performances on the field, but the jersey change has already become one of the major talking points before India begins its campaign.

The development comes after Lakra accused Hockey India officials of harassment and intimidation while pursuing action in a separate sexual harassment case involving a coach associated with a hockey academy in Ranchi. The ministry's intervention has brought the issue under national scrutiny, with concerns being raised about athlete welfare and the handling of complaints within sports bodies.

According to the allegations, Lakra claimed that she was being targeted after supporting complaints related to alleged sexual misconduct by coach Sudhir Gola. She also accused Hockey India General Secretary Bhola Nath Singh of protecting those responsible and attempting to silence individuals who raised concerns about the matter.

The allegations have emerged at a time when sports federations are under increasing pressure to ensure transparent grievance redressal mechanisms and provide a safe environment for athletes, particularly women players.

The complaint has not been raised by Lakra alone. Reports indicate that 31 women hockey players from Jharkhand have also submitted a written representation supporting concerns related to the issue. Their complaints have been formally forwarded for examination, adding further weight to the matter.

Following the intervention of the Sports Ministry, Hockey India has been asked to conduct a thorough inquiry and furnish its findings. Officials familiar with the development said the ministry wants a prompt assessment of the allegations and the actions taken by the federation so far.

The matter has been referred to Hockey India's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), which is responsible for examining allegations related to harassment and workplace misconduct. The committee is expected to review the complaints, gather statements from those involved and submit its recommendations based on the evidence presented.

Lakra is regarded as one of India's most respected hockey players. A former captain of the national women's team, she represented the country at major international tournaments and later remained associated with the development of the sport at the grassroots level. Her allegations have therefore attracted significant attention within the Indian hockey community.

The controversy originates from accusations against coach Sudhir Gola, who has been accused of sexual harassment by players linked to a hockey academy in Ranchi. As demands for action against the coach intensified, the dispute expanded into a broader confrontation involving administrators, former players and athletes associated with the academy.

Neither the Sports Ministry nor Hockey India has publicly disclosed a timeline for completion of the inquiry. However, the ministry's decision to step in signals the seriousness with which the allegations are being viewed.

The outcome of the investigation could have wider implications for governance standards within Indian sports federations. Athlete safety, accountability and the effectiveness of internal complaint mechanisms have become increasingly important issues in recent years, prompting calls for stronger oversight and greater transparency.

For now, attention remains focused on the inquiry process and the findings that emerge from Hockey India's Internal Complaints Committee. Further action, if any, is expected to depend on the conclusions reached during the investigation and the report submitted to the Sports Ministry.

India produced a ruthless performance to hammer arch-rivals Pakistan 7-1 in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 here on Friday, registering their second victory over the neighbours in three days.

The match at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre saw India extend their unbeaten run against Pakistan to 10 years. This was also India’s fourth win of the season as they climbed to seventh place on the points table. Pakistan, on the other hand, continued their dismal run, suffering their 15th straight defeat and remaining at the bottom.

Pakistan drew first blood in the 13th minute when Abu Mahmood converted a penalty corner. It was the same player who had scored in the previous meeting between the two sides. However, India took complete control of the game in the second quarter.

Sukhjeet Singh equalised in the 20th minute. Captain Harmanpreet Singh then gave India the lead six minutes later. The floodgates opened after that as Hardik Singh and Jugraj Singh scored in back-to-back minutes in the 34th and 35th. Jugraj’s strike came from a swift counter-attack.

Abhishek added another goal in the 41st minute, his second against Pakistan in two matches. Raj Kumar Pal made it 6-1 in the 44th minute before Dilpreet Singh completed the rout in the 54th. In all, seven different Indian players got their names on the scoresheet.

The match was not without concern. Pakistan forward Ahmad Nadeem was hit on the face in the second quarter and had to leave the field in a wheelchair after receiving medical attention. The extent of his injury is not yet known.

The comprehensive victory will boost India’s confidence as they continue their Pro League campaign. The team, under new captain Harmanpreet Singh, showed sharp attacking intent and solid defensive structure after the early setback.

Pakistan, struggling throughout the season, could not find any rhythm despite the early lead. Their defence looked vulnerable against India’s quick transitions and set-piece execution.

This result further highlights the growing gap between the two traditional rivals in world hockey. While India continues to evolve and compete with top teams, Pakistan are finding it difficult to secure even a single point in the league.

The Indian team will now look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches. For Pakistan, the focus remains on damage control and finding ways to stop the slide.