India vs Pakistan Hockey World Cup date: With the 2026 Hockey World Cup just around the corner, a controversy has erupted regarding the Indian team's jersey. The federation is facing criticism for changing the team's jersey color from blue to saffron.
When is the India vs Pakistan match in the Hockey World Cup?
Several legends, including Dhanraj Pillay, have expressed their displeasure. Here, we outline Team India's full schedule for the Hockey World Cup, including the highly anticipated match against Pakistan.
Just like in cricket, the entire world watches when India and Pakistan face off in hockey. Since both teams are in the same pool, a match between them is inevitable. Before detailing this match and the Hockey India schedule, let us look at some basic facts about the World Cup.
Belgium and the Netherlands are co-hosting the 2026 Hockey World Cup. This is the 16th edition of the tournament, featuring a total of 16 teams. All matches will be played at two stadiums across the two host cities—Wavre and Amstelveen. The World Cup will run from August 14 to August 30.
In the first stage, teams have been divided into groups (pools) of four. India and Pakistan are in 'Pool D' alongside Wales and England. 'Pool C' comprises Australia, Spain, Ireland, and South Africa. 'Pool A' includes the Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, and Japan, while 'Pool B' features Belgium, Germany, France, and Malaysia.
When is the India vs. Pakistan match at the Hockey World Cup?
The match between the Indian and Pakistani hockey teams will be played on August 19 at the Wagener Stadium in the Netherlands. It will kick off at 3:00 PM local time, which corresponds to approximately 11:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST). This will be India's final match of the first stage.
India's opening match is against Wales on August 15. The match will start at 1:00 PM local time, which corresponds to approximately 9:30 AM Indian time. India's second match is against England, scheduled for August 17 at 3:00 PM local time. India will play all three of its matches at the Wagner Stadium.
India vs. Pakistan Hockey Head-to-Head Record
India holds the upper hand in World Cup encounters, but Pakistan leads the overall head-to-head record. A total of 183 hockey matches have been played between India and Pakistan; Pakistan has won 82 and India 69, while 32 matches ended in a draw. Pakistan has scored 407 goals, compared to India's 390. However, given the current form, the Indian hockey team appears stronger. Earlier this year, India defeated Pakistan twice in the Pro League; after winning the first match 4–3, India handed Pakistan a crushing 7–1 defeat in the second match.
