FIH Hockey World Cup 2026: The much-awaited FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 schedule is officially out, revealing pool compositions, match fixtures, and key dates for both men’s and women’s tournaments. One of the biggest highlights is the classic India vs Pakistan encounter in the men’s competition, set to take place on August 19.
Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 Pools
The men’s competition features 16 teams divided into four groups:
Pool A: Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, Japan
Pool B: Belgium, Germany, France, Malaysia
Pool C: Australia, Spain, Ireland, South Africa
Pool D: England, India, Pakistan, Wales
The spotlight will be on Pool D, where arch-rivals India men’s national field hockey team and Pakistan men’s national field hockey team are placed together.
Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026 Pools
The women’s event also follows a similar four-pool structure:
Pool A: Netherlands, Australia, Chile, Japan
Pool B: Argentina, Germany, USA, Scotland
Pool C: Belgium, Spain, New Zealand, Ireland
Pool D: China, England, India, South Africa
India vs Pakistan: Match to Watch
The biggest fixture of the tournament will see India take on Pakistan on August 19 at 6:30 PM (IST). This high-voltage clash is expected to draw massive global attention.
Key Men’s Match Schedule (IST)
Opening Matches – August 15
- India vs Wales – 4:30 PM
- Germany vs Malaysia – 6:00 PM
- England vs Pakistan – 10:30 PM
- Belgium vs France – 12:30 AM
August 16 Highlights
- Australia vs Ireland – 3:00 PM
- Spain vs South Africa – 6:00 PM
- Netherlands vs New Zealand – 7:30 PM
- Argentina vs Japan – 10:30 PM
August 17 Highlights
- Pakistan vs Wales – 4:00 PM
- France vs Malaysia – 5:30 PM
- India vs England – 6:30 PM
- Germany vs Belgium – 12:00 AM
August 18 Highlights
- New Zealand vs Japan – 1:00 PM
- Spain vs Australia – 5:30 PM
- Ireland vs South Africa – 8:30 PM
- Argentina vs Netherlands – 9:30 PM
August 19 – Big Day
- England vs Wales – 4:00 PM
- India vs Pakistan – 6:30 PM
- France vs Germany – 8:30 PM
- Belgium vs Malaysia – 12:00 AM
August 20 Highlights
- Australia vs South Africa – 2:30 PM
- New Zealand vs Argentina – 4:00 PM
- Ireland vs Spain – 8:30 PM
- Netherlands vs Japan – 9:30 PM
August 21 Highlights
- Third Pool B vs Fourth Pool C – 2:30 PM
- Third Pool C vs Fourth Pool B – 5:30 PM
- First Pool C vs Second Pool B – 8:30 PM
August 22 Highlights
- First Pool B vs Second Pool C – 12:00 AM
- Third Pool A vs Fourth Pool D – 1:30 PM
- Third Pool D vs Fourth Pool A – 4:30 PM
- First Pool A vs Second Pool B – 7:30 PM
- First Pool D vs Second Pool A – 10:30 PM
August 23 Highlights
- Fourth Pool B vs Fourth Pool C – 3:00 PM
- Third Pool B vs Third Pool C – 6:00 PM
- First Pool B vs First Pool C – 9:00 PM
August 24 Highlights
- Second Pool B vs Second Pool C – 12:00 AM
- Fourth Pool A vs Fourth Pool D – 1:00 PM
- Third Pool A vs Third Pool D – 4:00 PM
- Second Pool A vs Second Pool D – 6:30 PM
- First Pool A vs First Pool D – 9:30 PM
August 28 Highlights
- Third Pool G vs Third Pool H – 1:00 PM
- Fourth Pool G vs Fourth Pool H – 2:30 PM
- Second Pool G vs Second Pool H – 4:00 PM
- First Pool G vs First Pool H – 5:30 PM
- Third Pool E vs Third Pool F – 6:30 PM
- Fourth Pool E vs Fourth Pool F – 8:30 PM
- First Pool E vs Second Pool F – 9:30 PM
August 29 Highlights
- First Pool F vs Second Pool E – 12:00 AM
August 30 Highlights
- Third-place playoff – 5:30 PM
- Final: August 30 – 8:00 PM
Key Women’s Match Schedule (IST)
Opening Day – August 15
- Australia vs Japan – 1:30 PM
- Germany vs Scotland – 3:00 PM
- Netherlands vs Chile – 7:30 PM
- Argentina vs USA – 9:00 PM
August 16 Highlights
- England vs South Africa – 1:30 PM
- China vs India – 4:30 PM
- Belgium vs New Zealand – 9:00 PM
August 17 Highlights
- Chile vs Japan – 1:00 PM
- USA vs Scotland – 2:30 PM
- Germany vs Argentina – 8:30 PM
- Australia vs Netherlands – 9:30 PM
August 18 Highlights
- New Zealand vs Ireland – 2:30 PM
- England vs China – 4:00 PM
- India vs South Africa – 6:30 PM
August 19 Highlight
- Spain vs Belgium – 12:00 AM
- Chile vs Australia – 1:00 PM
- Argentina vs Scotland – 2:30 PM
- USA vs Germany – 5:30 PM
- Netherlands vs Japan – 9:30 PM
August 20 Highlight
- China vs South Africa- 1:00 PM
- New Zealand vs Spain – 5:30 PM
- India vs England – 6:30 PM
August 21 Highlight
- Belgium vs Ireland – 12:00 AM
- Third Pool D vs Fourth Pool A- 1:00 PM
- Third Pool A vs Fourth Pool D – 4:00 PM
- First Pool D vs Second Pool A – 6:30 PM
- First Pool A vs Second Pool B – 9:30 PM
August 22 Highlight
- Third Pool C vs Fourth Pool D – 3:00 PM
- Third Pool B vs Fourth Pool C – 6:00 PM
- First Pool C vs Second Pool B – 9:00 PM
August 23 Highlight
- First Pool B vs Second Pool C – 12:00 AM
- Fourth Pool A vs Fourth Pool D – 1:30 PM
- Third Pool A vs Third Pool D – 4:30 PM
- First Pool A vs First Pool D – 7:30 PM
- Second Pool A vs Second Pool D – 10:30 PM
August 24 Highlight
- Fourth Pool C vs Fourth Pool B – 2:30 PM
- Third Pool C vs Third Pool B – 5:30 PM
- Second Pool A vs Second Pool D – 8:30 PM
August 25 Highlight
- First Pool C vs First Pool B – 12:00 AM
August 27 Highlight
- Third Pool G vs Third Pool H – 1:00 PM
- Fourth Pool G vs Fourth Pool H – 2:30 PM
- Second Pool G vs Second Pool H – 4:00 PM
- First Pool G vs First Pool H – 5:30 PM
- Third Pool E vs Third Pool F – 6:30 PM
- Fourth Pool E vs Fourth Pool F – 8:30 PM
- First Pool E vs Second Pool F – 9:30 PM
August 28 Highlight
- First Pool F vs Second Pool E – 12:00 AM
Finals
- Third-place playoff: August 29 – 4:30 PM
- Final: August 29 – 7:30 PM
Tournament Venues
Matches will be played across two most venues in Europe:
- Wagener Stadion
- Belfius Arena
What Makes This Tournament Special
With top-ranked teams, historic rivalries, and back-to-back action across multiple days, the 2026 edition promises high-intensity hockey. The India vs Pakistan face-off, in particular, is expected to be one of the most-watched matches of the tournament.