EXPLAINER
Groups, format, match schedule, timings, history of India and Pakistan and much more ahead of the 2026 Hockey World Cup.
One of the most bitter rivalries in hockey will be renewed when India and Pakistan meet in the upcoming 2026 Hockey World Cup.
The South Asian neighbors, who share a history of conflict and division, are in the same group at the men’s World Cup, which begins on Saturday.
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Al Jazeera brings you everything you need to know ahead of the India vs Pakistan match:
Where will the 2026 Ice Hockey World Cup be held?
The 2026 IIHF World Championship will be held jointly in Wavre (Belgium) and Amstelveen (Netherlands) from August 15 to 30.
Both the men’s and women’s tournaments will feature 16 teams divided into four groups.
Germany has been the reigning men’s world champion since 2023, while the Netherlands has held the women’s title since 2022.
What pools are there for the World Hockey Championship?
Men’s pools
- Group A: Argentina, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand.
- Group B: Belgium, France, Germany, Malaysia.
- Group C: Australia, Spain, Ireland, South Africa.
- Group D: England, India, Pakistan, Wales.
Women’s pools
- Group A: Australia, Chile, Japan, Netherlands.
- Group B: Argentina, Germany, Scotland, USA.
- Group C: Belgium, Spain, Ireland, New Zealand.
- Group D: China, England, India, South Africa.
What is the format of the 2026 Ice Hockey World Cup?
This year introduces a new format that removes the quarter-final stage and replaces it with a second stage called “crossover pools”.
After the first round, called the grouping stage, the teams will again be grouped into four new groups – Groups E, F, G and H – based on their finishing positions in the first round. So they will play three extra matches.
- Group E: participants who took 1st and 2nd places from groups A and D.
- Group F: players finishing 1st and 2nd from Groups B and C.
- Group G: players finishing 3rd and 4th from Groups A and D.
- Group H: players finishing 3rd and 4th from Groups B and C.
The top two teams from Groups E and F advance directly to the semi-finals, while the rest play classification matches (places 5 to 16).
The action will conclude with the bronze medal match and the final.
When will India play Pakistan in the Hockey World Cup?
The Indian men’s hockey team will take on Pakistan in a Group D match on August 19.
The match will take place at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, the Netherlands and will start at 15:00 local time (18:30 in India and 18:00 in Pakistan).
When was the last time India played Pakistan in the Hockey World Cup?
The upcoming competition will be the first time in 16 years that India and Pakistan will meet at the Hockey World Cup.
They last met at the 2010 World Cup in the Indian capital New Delhi, where the hosts beat Pakistan 4-1 in a pool match.
Meeting India and Pakistan at the Hockey World Cup
India and Pakistan have met five times at the Hockey World Cup, with the Indians winning three to Pakistan’s two.
The only Hockey World Cup final between them took place in 1975 and ended with a 2:1 victory for India.
- India – Pakistan 4:1, New Delhi, 2010
- Pakistan 3-2 India, London 1986
- India 2-1 Pakistan, Kuala Lumpur 1975
- India 1-0 Pakistan, Amsterdam 1973.
- Pakistan 2-1 India, Barcelona, 1971
How many Hockey World Cups have India and Pakistan won?
Pakistan is the most successful men’s team at the Hockey World Cup, winning four titles: 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994.
India has won only once, in 1975. However, she holds the record for most Olympic gold medals (8).
Where to watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Cup?
- India: Star Sports, JioHotstar
- Pakistan: Thapmad
- Whole world: Watch.Hockey
2026 Men’s World Hockey Championship: full schedule
(local time, GMT+2)
August 15
13:00 – India – Wales (Group D)
14:30 – Germany – Malaysia (Group B)
19:00 – England – Pakistan (Group D)
21:00 – Belgium – France (Group B)
August 16
11:30 – Australia – Ireland (Group C)
14:30 – Spain – South Africa (Group C)
16:00 – Netherlands – New Zealand (Group A)
19:00 – Argentina – Japan (Group A)
August 17
12:30 – Pakistan – Wales (Group D)
14:00 – France – Malaysia (Group B)
15:00 – India – England (Group D)
20:30 – Germany – Belgium (Group B)
August 18
09:30 – New Zealand – Japan (Group A)
14:00 – Spain – Australia (Group C)
17:00 – Ireland – South Africa (Group C)
18:00 – Argentina – Netherlands (Group A)
August 19
12:30 – England – Wales (Group D)
15:00 – Pakistan – India (Group D)
17:00 – France – Germany (Group B)
20:30 – Belgium – Malaysia (Group B)
August 20
11:00 – Australia – South Africa (Group C)
12:30 – New Zealand – Argentina (Group A)
17:00 – Ireland – Spain (Group C)
18:00 – Netherlands – Japan (Group A)
August 21
11:00 – 3rd Group B vs 4th Group C (Group H)
14:00 – 3rd Group C vs 4th Group B (Group H)
17:00 – 1st Group C vs 2nd Group B (Group F)
20:30 – 1st Group B vs 2nd Group C (Group F)
August 22
10:00 – 3rd group A vs 4th group D (group G)
13:00 – 3rd Group D vs 4th Group A (Group G)
16:00 – 1st group A vs 2nd group D (group E)
19:00 – 1st Group D vs 2nd Group A (Group E)
August 23
11:30 – 4th Group B vs 4th Group C (Group H)
14:30 – 3rd Group B vs 3rd Group C (Group H)
17:30 – 1st Group B vs 1st Group C (Group F)
20:30 – 2nd Group B vs 2nd Group C (Group F)
August 24
09:30 – 4th Group A vs 4th Group D (Group G)
12:30 – 3rd Group A vs 3rd Group D (Group G)
14:45 – 2nd Group A vs 2nd Group D (Group E)
18:00 – 1st Group A vs 1st Group D (Group E)
August 28
09:30 – 3rd group G vs 3rd group H (13th/14th place)
11:00 – 4th group G vs 4th group H (15th/16th place)
12:30 – 2nd group G vs 2nd group H (11th/12th place)
14:00 – 1st group G vs 1st group H (9th/10th place)
15:00 – 3rd group E vs 3rd group F (5th/6th place)
17:00 – 4th group E vs 4th group F (7th/8th place)
18:00 – 1st group E vs 2nd group F (Semi-final)
20:30 – 1st group F vs 2nd group E (semi-final)
August 30
14:00 – Losers’ Semi-final 1 – Losers’ Semi-final 2 (bronze medal)
16:30 – Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs Winner of Semi-Final 2 (Final)