India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet in a Pool D match at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup on August 19 at Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, at 15:00 local time. It will be the first time the two countries have faced each other at a Hockey World Cup since 2010, when India defeated Pakistan 4-1 in New Delhi.
2026 FIH Hockey World Cup: India and Pakistan drawn in same group for first time in 16 years
India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet in a Pool D match at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup on August 19 at Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, at 15:00 local time. It will be the first time the two countries have faced each other at a Hockey World Cup since 2010, when India defeated Pakistan 4-1 in New Delhi.
The 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup is being jointly hosted by Wavre, Belgium, and Amstelveen, the Netherlands, from August 15 to 30. Both the men's and women's editions feature 16 teams each, divided into four pools.
Germany are the defending men's world champions, having won the title in 2023. The Netherlands hold the women's title from 2022.
In the men's draw, India and Pakistan are placed in Pool D alongside England and Wales. The other men's pools are: Pool A — Argentina, Japan, Netherlands and New Zealand; Pool B — Belgium, France, Germany and Malaysia; Pool C — Australia, Spain, Ireland and South Africa.
The tournament uses a revised format in which the quarterfinal stage has been replaced by a second group phase called 'crossover pools,' designated Pools E through H. Teams are redistributed into these new pools based on their finishing positions in the opening round, with each side playing three additional matches. The top two teams from Pools E and F advance directly to the semifinals, while the remaining teams compete in classification matches for positions five through 16. The event concludes with a bronze-medal match and a final.
India and Pakistan have met five times in Hockey World Cup history. India have won three of those encounters against Pakistan's two. Their only World Cup final meeting, held in Kuala Lumpur in 1975, ended 2-1 in India's favour. The full head-to-head record at World Cups is: India 4-1 Pakistan (New Delhi, 2010); Pakistan 3-2 India (London, 1986); India 2-1 Pakistan (Kuala Lumpur, 1975); India 1-0 Pakistan (Amsterdam, 1973); Pakistan 2-1 India (Barcelona, 1971).
Pakistan are the most successful men's team in Hockey World Cup history, with four titles won in 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994. India have won the men's World Cup once, in 1975, though they hold the record for most Olympic gold medals in the sport, with eight.
The August 19 match between Pakistan and India is scheduled for 15:00 local time, which corresponds to 18:00 in Pakistan and 18:30 in India.
Broadcast rights for the tournament are held by Star Sports and JioHotstar in India, Tapmad in Pakistan, and Watch.Hockey for worldwide audiences, according to the source.
- The source does not establish current rankings or form of either the India or Pakistan men's team ahead of the tournament.
- The source does not confirm which specific matches or venues are assigned to Wavre, Belgium, as opposed to Amstelveen, the Netherlands.
- The source does not provide capacity figures or ticketing information for either venue.
- The source does not state whether any geopolitical conditions could affect the match taking place.
- The source does not identify the coaches or key players for either team.
- The source does not explain the qualification process by which any team earned its place in the tournament.
- The source does not specify the format or schedule for the women's tournament beyond pool composition.
Read the original at Al Jazeera English