Amsterdam, March 18 (NationPress) – The Men's FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 will witness a highly anticipated encounter as World No. 8 India is set to face their long-time rivals Pakistan in a Pool D clash at 6:30 PM IST on August 19. This exciting match will take place at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen.

India finds itself in Pool D alongside the four-time World Cup champions Pakistan, as well as Wales and England. The top team from this four-member pool will advance to the quarterfinals, while the subsequent two teams will compete in Cross-Over matches.

The draw ceremony, held on Tuesday at the Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam, was an exhilarating moment for teams and athletes as they discovered their group stage opponents. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has officially released the match schedule for this prestigious tournament.

India, the winners of the 1975 World Cup, will kick off their journey in the 16-team men's competition against Wales on August 15, the tournament's opening day, at 4:30 PM IST. They are also scheduled to contest against fourth-ranked England on August 17 at the same venue.

Another notable match in Pool D will see England take on Pakistan on August 15.

The first round of matches will occur until August 20, with the knockout stage commencing on August 21.

On the women's side, the Indian hockey team will launch their campaign against World No. 4 and Asian Champions China at the Wagener Stadium on August 16.

They will then face South Africa, the only team ranked lower than them, on August 18, before concluding their first-round matches against World No. 7 England, a team they lost to during the World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad, India, on August 20.

This year's Men's and Women's Hockey World Cups are being co-hosted for the first time by Belgium and the Netherlands, kicking off with the women's match between Australia and Japan on August 15.

In total, six matches—three each for the men's and women's divisions—will unfold at two venues: the Wagner Stadium in Amstelveen and the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium, on the opening day of the tournament, which runs from August 15 to 30.

India, alongside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Australia, Ireland, Argentina, Spain, New Zealand, Japan, and South Africa, has qualified for both the men's and women's sections of this competition. The Indian men's team secured its place by winning the Asia Cup, while the women's team qualified by finishing second in the tournament held in Hyderabad, Telangana.