FIH Hockey World Cup 2026: India's Journey, Scores & Schedule

The prestigious FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is currently underway, co-hosted by hockey powerhouses Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to August 30, 2026. The tournament features separate men's and women's competitions, each comprising 16 national teams vying for the world title. Matches are being played across two primary venues: the new Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium, and the iconic Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands. A significant change in this edition is the introduction of a new competition format. Unlike previous World Cups that featured quarter-finals, the 2026 tournament streamlines progression directly from a second group phase to the semi-finals. Teams initially compete in four pools of four (Pools A-D). Following this, the top two teams from each pool advance to crossover Pools E and F, while the bottom two move into Pools G and H for classification matches. The top two teams from Pools E and F will then directly qualify for the semi-finals, eliminating the quarter-final stage. For the Indian audience, the performance of both the men's and women's national teams is a focal point. The Indian men's hockey team, led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, began their Pool D campaign with a confident 3-1 victory over Wales on August 15. Goals for India were scored by Sanjay Rana (8'), Harmanpreet Singh (11', 43') while Sam Welsh scored for Wales (56'). This win provided a strong start to their World Cup aspirations. However, the Indian men's team faced a challenging encounter in their second Pool D match against England on Monday, August 17. Despite taking a 2-1 lead into halftime with goals from Harmanpreet Singh (16') and Dilpreet Singh (24'), India ultimately succumbed to a 4-2 defeat. England's goals came from Nicholas Bandurak (14', 54'), Stuart Rushmere (39'), and Henry Croft (43'). This result was particularly disappointing as it extended India's long 32-year wait for a World Cup victory over England; their last win against the European side in the tournament dates back to 1994 in Sydney, when they secured a narrow 1-0 victory in a fifth-place playoff. England has since won four successive World Cup meetings against India in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014, with their most recent encounter in 2023 ending in a goalless draw. Following the loss to England, India remains second in Pool D with three points from two matches. England, having secured two wins, has moved to six points and confirmed their place in the next phase. The Indian men's team now faces a crucial final pool game against Pakistan to keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive. In the women's tournament, the Indian national team also commenced their campaign in Pool D. On Sunday, August 16, they played to a 2-2 draw against China. Navneet Kaur (8') and Deepika Sehrawat (25') were the goal-scorers for India. The Indian women's team is set to play their second Pool D encounter against South Africa on August 18. The FIH Hockey World Cup is a quadrennial event, representing the pinnacle of international field hockey outside the Olympic Games. The tournament attracts global attention, and the performances of national teams, especially those with a rich hockey history like India, are closely followed by fans worldwide. The event not only showcases top-tier athletic talent but also significantly impacts the global rankings and prestige of participating nations. The format changes aim to enhance the competitive intensity and spectator experience throughout the event.

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