New Delhi: India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in the group stage of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 after being placed in Pool D alongside England and Wales. The pool matches will be played in the Netherlands.
The World Cup will be held in Amsterdam and Wavre from August 15 to August 30.
The official draw ceremony took place at the Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam, one of the two venues for the tournament, on Tuesday. The Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium, will serve as the second venue, according to fih.hockey.
The event was attended by senior officials, including FIH President Tayyab Ikram, International Hockey Federation (FIH) Vice President and EuroHockey President Marcos Hofman, and representatives from the Dutch and Belgian hockey federations, along with players, coaches, and other stakeholders.
Ikram said that the draw marked a major milestone on the road to the tournament and noted that the upcoming edition, co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, was expected to be highly successful. He added that the event would bring together top athletes and the global hockey community.
He further said that sports and events like the Hockey World Cup could play an important role in bringing people together and fostering peace, especially in a world affected by conflict. He also invited fans worldwide to be part of the tournament and wished participating athletes an unforgettable experience.
The men’s pools for the tournament are as follows:
Pool A features the Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, and Japan, with matches scheduled in the Netherlands.
Pool B includes Belgium, Germany, France, and Malaysia, with matches to be played in Belgium.
Pool C comprises Australia, Spain, Ireland, and South Africa, with matches in Belgium.
The draw was conducted by former international players Naomie van As, Barbara Neelen and Teun de Nooijer, along with DJ La Fuente, who was announced as the Dutch ambassador for the tournament.
