The 16th Men’s and Women’s Hockey World Cup, organized by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), begins on Saturday (Aug. 15) in the Netherlands and Belgium and will run until the 30th. Matches for both genders are being held together.
On the opening day, in the men’s section, India vs Wales (4:30 p.m./Amstelveen), Germany vs Malaysia (6:00 p.m./Wavre), and England vs Pakistan (10:30 p.m./Amstelveen) will face off.
In the women’s section, Australia vs Japan (1:30 p.m./Amstelveen), Germany vs Scotland (3:00 p.m./Wavre), and the Netherlands vs Chile (7:30 p.m./Amstelveen) will meet.
The men’s competition...
Although India has continued to participate in the World Cup, it has not reached the podium since becoming champions in 1975 and has remained far behind.
This year, India will play with the determination to make a comeback. Under the guidance of coach Craig Fulton, the team takes the field with 20 players led by defender Harmanpreet Singh. The squad has been selected as a blend of experience and youthful energy.
India has emerged as a team with a solid defense, a tactically strong midfield, and forwards with superb attacking ability. Eight players have been given their debut opportunity in this squad.
The Asia Cup victory (2025), and the wins against European champion Germany and Olympic champion Netherlands in the Pro League, will boost the team’s morale.
Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Abhishek, and Suraj Karkera are key players.
Group ‘A’
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Netherlands
Argentina
New Zealand
Japan
Group ‘B’
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Belgium
Germany
France
Malaysia
Group ‘C’
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Australia
Spain
Ireland
South Africa
Group ‘D’
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England
India
Pakistan
Wales
India's matches...
Aug. 15 Wales 4:30 PM Amstelveen
Aug. 17 England 6:30 PM Amstelveen
Aug. 19 Pakistan 6:30 PM Amstelveen
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Women's competition...
This will be the 8th time that the Indian women's team is playing in the World Cup. Their fourth-place finish in the first World Cup (1974) remains India's best result to this day.
In the remaining years, the Indian team has finished in much lower positions. This time, under the guidance of coach Jord Merain, they take the field with the determination to rewrite that history.
The Indian team, led by Salima Tete, comes into this tournament with confidence after becoming champions in the Nations Cup hockey tournament (2025) and winning silver in the Asia Cup. Having also qualified for the Pro Hockey League, the team arrives with momentum and a plan to advance through the successive stages.
Salima Tete, Sushila Chanu, goalkeeper Savita Punia, Navneet Kaur, and Sunelita Toppo are the key players.
Group ‘A’
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Netherlands
Australia
Chile
Japan
Group ‘B’
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Argentina
Germany
United States
Scotland
Group ‘C’
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Belgium
Spain
New Zealand
Ireland
Group ‘D’
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China
England
India
South Africa
India’s matches...
Aug. 16 China 4:30 PM Amstelveen
Aug. 18 South Africa 6:30 PM Amstelveen
Aug. 20 England 6:30 PM Amstelveen
Tournament format...
This year’s tournament has eliminated the quarterfinal round. The 16 teams participating in the tournament have been divided into 4 groups of 4 teams each. They will play against each other within their groups, and at the end of the group stage, the teams finishing in the top two places in all 4 groups will advance to the second round.
In it, the 8 teams are divided into two groups of 4 each and play against one another within their groups. In the end, the teams finishing in the top two spots in both groups will advance directly to the semifinals. The teams that win the semifinals will move on to the final.
The teams that finish 3rd and 4th in the group stage, and the teams that finish in the bottom two spots in the second round, will go to the classification matches. The two teams that lose in the semifinals will face off for 3rd place.
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