Schedule announced for Under-18 Asia Cup Hockey 2026
By Nawaz Gohar ; The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has officially released the schedule for the Under-18 Asia Cup 2026. The prestigious event is set to take place in Kakamigahara, Japan, from May 29 to June 6, featuring Asia’s elite youth teams competing for the title.
The tournament will feature separate competitions for men and women. In the men’s category, nine teams have been divided into two groups:
Pool A: India, Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Kazakhstan.
Pool B: Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and China.
The “Green Shirts” will launch their campaign on May 30 against China. Pakistan’s group stage fixtures are as follows:
May 30: Pakistan vs. China (11:00 AM)
May 31: Pakistan vs. Malaysia (3:00 PM)
June 3: Pakistan vs. Bangladesh (3:00 PM)
According to the schedule, group stage matches will conclude by June 1, followed by the semi-finals and classification matches on June 5. The grand final and the third-place playoff are scheduled for June 6.
In preparation for the event, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) conducted nationwide trials, while the U-18 National Hockey Championship served as a key scouting ground for emerging talent.
This event is considered vital for the promotion of hockey at the junior level across the region. Pakistan enters the tournament as a favorite to secure the top position in Pool B.
