The Hockey World Cup, co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, will begin on August 15; for the first time, matches for both the men's and women's tournaments will be played concurrently, and all matches will be held at two venues.
The men and women hockey World Cups are being held together for the first time
Fans are eagerly awaiting the FIH Hockey World Cup, which begins on August 15. For the first time, the men's and women's Hockey World Cups are being held simultaneously. A total of 50 matches will be played across both tournaments, spanning 16 days. Belgium and the Netherlands are co-hosting the event, with 16 teams participating in each of the men's and women's categories.
The World Cup matches will be played at two venues, and the format has undergone some changes: the tournament will progress from the group stage to crossover pools, followed by the semi-finals and finals.
All eyes will be on both the Indian men's and women's teams
The Indian teams are participating in both the men's and women's Hockey World Cup tournaments. These tournaments are being co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. In the men's event, the Indian team has been placed in Pool D alongside Wales, Pakistan, and England. The Indian men's team will kick off its campaign with a match against Wales on August 15 at 4:30 PM (IST).
Meanwhile, the Indian women's team has been placed in Pool D with China, England, and South Africa; their first match is scheduled against China on August 16 at 4:30 PM (IST).
Men's Pools for the 2026 Hockey World Cup
| Pool | Teams |
|---|---|
| Pool A | Argentina, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand |
| Pool B | Belgium, France, Germany, Malaysia |
| Pool C | Australia, Spain, Ireland, South Africa |
| Pool D | India, England, Wales, Pakistan |
Women's pools for the 2026 Hockey World Cup
| Pool | Teams |
|---|---|
| Pool A | Australia, Chile, Japan, Netherlands |
| Pool B | Argentina, Germany, Scotland, USA |
| Pool C | Belgium, Spain, Ireland, New Zealand |
| Pool D | India, England, South Africa, China |
Here is the Hockey World Cup schedule for the Indian men's and women's hockey teams
Fans are expecting stellar performances from both the Indian men's and women's teams at the 2026 Hockey World Cup. Regarding the men's team's Pool D schedule: after facing Wales on August 15, they will play against England on August 17, followed by a match against Pakistan on August 19.
Meanwhile, the women's team—also in Pool D—will play its first match against China on August 16, followed by matches against South Africa and England on August 18 and 20, respectively.
