The Indian men's hockey team aims to win a trophy that has been awaited for 51 years. At the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, which will take place in the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30, India will fight for the title.
India last won the Hockey World Cup in 1975; since then, the team has failed to win the title or even reach the podium. Now, the team will try to end this long wait under the leadership of captain Harmanpreet Singh and coach Craig Fulton.
Although Fulton helped India win the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, the current task is even more difficult. Sixteen world teams will participate in the tournament, and the competition format differs from previous ones.
India has been placed in Group D, where it will play against Wales, England, and long-time rival Pakistan. Each team in the group will play one match against the other three teams. The top two teams from the group will advance to the second round.
All three group matches will be played by India at the Vegner Stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It should be noted that all times are given in Indian time. Thus, India's campaign will begin on August 15 with a match against Wales, and four days later, on August 19, there will be an intense confrontation with Pakistan.
There will be no direct crossover matches or quarterfinals at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, as in previous events. After the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the second round. There, eight teams will be divided into two groups. The top two from Group D will face the top two from Group A, and the top two from Group B will face the top two from Group C. In the second round, teams will play against two other teams from their new group. Points earned in the first round in the same group will be retained.
After the second round, the top two teams from both groups will advance to the semi-finals. For teams that finish lower in the first and second rounds, classification matches are provided.
Head coach Craig Fulton has decided to rely on almost the same core squad he worked with over the past two years. Harmanpreet Singh will lead the team in the second World Cup in a row. Mandip Singh and Manpreet Singh will participate in the fourth World Cup. Additionally, this tournament will be a debut for some players.
Before the start of the tournament, the main problem for India is its recent form. Currently, India ranks eighth in the world rankings. The Pro League season has been very difficult, and the team finished second to last in the table. In the first eight matches of the season, India did not secure a single clean victory. However, the team improved its results in the later stages.
In Europe, India defeated teams such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Pakistan, and also won against England in a penalty shootout. Thanks to these results, India avoided relegation in the FIH Nations League. The improvement in the Indian team's attack was noticeable in the matches against the Netherlands, Germany, and England. Nevertheless, defense remains a concern.
India's strength lies in Harmanpreet Singh, one of the best drag flickers in the world. His ability to score goals from penalty corners has long been a powerful weapon for India, as his drag flick can change the course of big matches. Although there is some concern about his current form, as he scored only one goal in the last eight Pro League matches in Europe. Previously, he missed some matches due to finger injury. Over the past two years, he has faced several injuries, but he currently looks completely healthy.
The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 in India will be broadcast on the Star Sports channel. Furthermore, the matches will be available for live viewing on JioHotstar, allowing Indian viewers to follow the India team's games both on television and in digital format.
