The upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 will be jointly organized by Belgium and the Netherlands, two of the world's leading hockey nations. The tournament will be held from 15 August to 30 August 2026 and will feature the world's top men's and women's hockey teams.The draw ceremony was held at the historic Wagener Stadium, Amsterdam, where hockey legends Naomi van As, Barbara Neelen and Teun de Nooijer participated in the draw process.According to FIH, the complete match schedule will be announced separately.
India has been placed in Pool D, creating one of the most competitive groups of the tournament.
| Pool D (Men) |
|---|
| England |
| India |
| Pakistan |
| Wales |
The draw sets up a highly anticipated India-Pakistan hockey clash, one of the sport's most historic rivalries.All Pool D matches involving India will be played in the Netherlands.
India's women's team has also been placed in Pool D.
| Pool D (Women) |
| China |
| England |
| India |
| South Africa |
The women's team will similarly play its group-stage matches in the Netherlands.
| Pool | Teams | Venue Country |
| Pool A | Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, Japan | Netherlands |
| Pool B | Belgium, Germany, France, Malaysia | Belgium |
| Pool C | Australia, Spain, Ireland, South Africa | Belgium |
| Pool D | England, India, Pakistan, Wales | Netherlands |
| Pool | Teams | Venue Country |
| Pool A | Netherlands, Australia, Chile, Japan | Netherlands |
| Pool B | Argentina, Germany, USA, Scotland | Belgium |
| Pool C | Belgium, Spain, New Zealand, Ireland | Belgium |
| Pool D | China, England, India, South Africa | Netherlands |
The draw has revived one of hockey's most celebrated rivalries. Matches between India and Pakistan have historically attracted global attention due to the rich legacy of both nations in international hockey.The World Cup fixture gains additional significance as Pakistan has recently returned to elite international competitions through qualification for major FIH tournaments, including the FIH Pro League 2025-26.
Reigning champions Germany, who won their third Hockey World Cup title in Bhubaneswar in 2023 after defeating Belgium in the final, have been placed in Pool B alongside Belgium, France and Malaysia.The group is expected to be one of the strongest pools in the men's competition because it contains both the defending champions and the co-host nation.
FIH President Tayyab Ikram highlighted the role of sports diplomacy and international sporting events in promoting global cooperation.He emphasized that major sporting events such as the Hockey World Cup can contribute towards fostering peace and bringing people together during periods of international conflict and geopolitical tensions.
The seventh edition of the FIH Hockey Pro League will run from 9 December 2025 to 28 June 2026.Key features include:
The Indian men's team, bronze medallists at the Paris 2024 Olympics, will begin its campaign in February 2026.India will face:
Two India-Pakistan matches are scheduled in England during June 2026.India narrowly avoided relegation in the previous season by finishing eighth.
The Indian women's team will not participate in the 2025-26 Pro League after being relegated to the FIH Nations Cup following their last-place finish in the 2024-25 season.
Pakistan will make its debut appearance in the FIH Pro League 2025-26.The opportunity emerged after New Zealand, winner of the 2024-25 Nations Cup, declined promotion to the Pro League. As runners-up, Pakistan accepted the invitation and secured entry into the competition.This development marks Pakistan's return to top-tier international hockey after several years.
The FIH Hockey Nations Cup acts as the second-tier international competition below the Pro League and serves as the primary promotion pathway into the FIH Pro League.The winners receive an opportunity to join the following Pro League season.
Cape Town, South Africa
11–20 June 2026
Ireland enters the competition after relegation from the Pro League.
Auckland, New Zealand
15–21 June 2026
India will seek an immediate return to the Pro League through a successful Nations Cup campaign.
The international hockey ecosystem is now organized through a structured competitive ladder:
| Competition | Status |
| Hockey World Cup | Premier Global Championship |
| FIH Pro League | Annual Elite League Competition |
| FIH Nations Cup | Promotion-Relegation Tournament |
| Nations Cup 2 | Qualification Level Tournament |
This structure ensures regular international competition and a merit-based pathway for teams aspiring to compete at the highest level.
1924
Lausanne, Switzerland
Tayyab Ikram
| Competition | Purpose |
| Hockey World Cup | World Championship Event |
| FIH Pro League | Elite Annual International League |
| FIH Nations Cup | Promotion Route to Pro League |
| Nations Cup 2 | Qualification Tournament |
Updated – 18 March 2026 ; 11:09 AM | Business Standard, Olympics.com, FIH