FIH reveals 2026 World Cup Schedule: Pakistan to face England in Amstelveen opener
FIH reveals 2026 World Cup Schedule: Pakistan to face England in Amstelveen opener
By Nawaz Gohar ; The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has officially pulled back the curtain on the 2026 Men’s Hockey World Cup, revealing a high-octane schedule for the tournament co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
Set to run from August 15 to 30, the prestigious event will ignite with a compelling opening fixture between India and Wales at the historic Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen. For Pakistan’s national side, the sport’s most decorated champions with four world titles, the journey begins on the very first day.
The Green Shirts are slated to face England at 10:00 PM PKT on August 15 in Amstelveen, followed by a crucial encounter against Wales on August 17.
The crown jewel of the group stages, however, remains the storied rivalry between Pakistan and India. Fans across the globe have circled August 19 on their calendars, when the two South Asian giants will clash at 6:00 PM PKT in a match that promises to be the tournament’s most-watched spectacle.
The group allocations were finalized during a prestigious draw ceremony at Wagener Stadium, attended by FIH President Tayyab Ikram and other high-ranking officials, including EuroHockey President Marcos Hofman and the leadership of the Belgian and Dutch national teams.
The sixteen-nation field has been divided into four competitive pools. Pool A features co-hosts Netherlands alongside Japan, Argentina, and New Zealand, while Pool B sees co-hosts Belgium pitted against defending champions Germany, France, and Malaysia.
Pool C brings together Australia, Spain, Ireland, and South Africa. Pakistan finds itself in the formidable Pool D, contending with India, England, and Wales for a spot in the next round.
The path to the podium follows a rigorous new format. The top two teams from each initial pool will advance to a “Super Eight” stage, where they will be reorganized into two groups of four.
Pool E will house the leaders from Pools A and D, while Pool F will consist of the top finishers from Pools B and C. Only the top two teams from these secondary groups will earn a ticket to the semi-finals.
This grueling road to glory will culminate on August 30 at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium, where the world’s new hockey king will be crowned.
