LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Kashmir English): The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has announced pools for the 2026 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup.
Featuring 16 teams, the tournament will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15-30, 2026.
The arch rivals; India and Pakistan are placed in the same group (D).
Hockey World Cup 2026 structure and pools
The event will be hosted by Amsterdam and Wavre.
The 16 participating teams are divided into four groups, with the top teams advancing to the knockout stages.
Along with India and Pakistan, confirmed qualifiers include Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Spain, New Zealand, Chile, Canada, USA, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Austria, England, and Poland.
India vs. Pakistan showdown
The arch-rivals have been placed in the same group. Pakistan and India were drawn into the same group, Pool D, during the official draw ceremony held in Amsterdam on March 17, 2026.
The full match schedule would bring more details on when the two sides meet in this pool-level clash.
Both teams will play their group matches at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
The matchup is likely to reignite the rivalry following Pakistan’s qualification after a 4-3 comeback win over Japan and impressive performances in the qualifiers. The game is viewed as a high-stakes encounter.
Both teams have shown strong form leading up to the tournament, with India aiming to show dominance as a top Asian side and Pakistan aiming for a resurgence in the sport.
Hockey World Cup 2026 pools
The 16 teams have been divided into four pools of four. The competition will be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30, 2026.
Pool A: Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, Japan
Pool B: Belgium, Germany, France, Malaysia
Pool C: Australia, Spain, Ireland, South Africa
Pool D: England, India, Pakistan, Wales
Tournament format
Teams play a round-robin within their pools. The top two teams from each pool advance to a second group stage.
The qualifiers from Pool A and Pool D will form Pool E, while those from Pool B and Pool C will form Pool F.
Finals
The top two teams from the second-stage pools (E and F) will advance to the semi-finals. The championship final is scheduled for August 30, 2026, at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium.
The full match schedule, including the exact date and time for the Pakistan vs India showdown, is expected to be released by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on March 18, 2026.
