~From Rotterdam to London and Auckland, Indian fans can expect a fortnight filled with world-class hockey, fierce rivalries and crucial World Cup auditions~
New Delhi, June 12, 2026: Indian fans are in for an action-packed fortnight as the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams take center stage on the international stage, offering fans a rare opportunity to watch elite-level hockey almost every day from June 14 to 28.
The Indian men’s and women’s teams will compete simultaneously in Europe and New Zealand, creating a virtually uninterrupted stretch of international hockey for fans.
Whether it’s the men taking on world number one in the Netherlands, reigning world champions Germany, arch-rivals Pakistan and world number four England in the FIH Professional Hockey League 2025-26, or the women aiming to return to the professional league at the FIH Women’s Hockey Nations Cup New Zealand 2025-26 in Auckland, there is no shortage of storylines, stakes and spectacle. there will be.
Timing couldn’t be more important.
With the Ice Hockey World Cup and Asian Games on the horizon, the upcoming matches provide an exciting glimpse into the team structure ahead of the two major events. This is an opportunity for trainers to try out combinations. For players, this is a chance to cement their place in the plans of the sport’s biggest stages. For fans, this is an opportunity to see two Indian teams strive for success on different continents.
The men’s team begins their European campaign against the Netherlands in Rotterdam before taking on Germany in back-to-back matches. Both countries are considered favorites for this year’s World Cup and this challenge couldn’t come at a better time as the Indian team prepares to end their long wait for a World Cup title.
Adding another layer of intrigue, the matches in the Netherlands will give the Indian team a taste of the conditions in one of the host countries of the 2026 Hockey World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Belgium.
Then comes one of the most anticipated chapters in world hockey.
India and Pakistan will renew their historic rivalry on June 23 and 26 in London, where India will also take on hosts England. Few matches in international sport carry as much emotion, history and anticipation as the India-Pakistan clash, and fans can expect both matches to capture the world’s attention.
While the men take on the European elite in the FIH Professional League, the Indian women’s hockey team will have its own main target.
Competing at the Women’s Hockey Nations Cup in Auckland, the women will compete for the ultimate prize – a place in the FIH Professional Hockey League next season. Every match matters and a good game can be the perfect springboard for the upcoming World Cup.
The tournament also provides a valuable opportunity for the team to continue its ascension against quality international competition and build momentum ahead of a crucial period for the team.
With high stakes, global rivalries and World Cup build-up all at the same time, June promises to be one of the most exciting times in the Indian hockey calendar.
Former Indian hockey legend Rupinder Pal Singh believes fans are in for a memorable fortnight. “As players, we look forward to these periods because every match has a meaning behind it. For the fans, it is even more special because Indian hockey will be shown on their screens almost every day. The men’s team will be competing against some of the very best teams in the world and the women’s team has the opportunity to take a major step forward with the Nations Cup. It is a fantastic showcase of where Indian hockey is today and where it wants to go tomorrow.”
Former Indian women’s team captain Rani echoed this sentiment and said, “It is rare to see both Indian teams competing at the same time in such important tournaments. The women have a chance to compete for promotion to the Professional League while the men will challenge the top teams in world hockey. For the fans, this means almost two weeks of uninterrupted Indian hockey. We hope the fans rally behind both teams because their support gives the players a lot of confidence and motivation.”
From battling for promotion in Auckland to auditioning for the World Cup in Rotterdam and vying for blockbusters in London, it’s all set.
Indian men‘s Team: FIH Professional Hockey LeagueLamps
- 14 June: Netherlands – India
- 17 June: India vs Germany
- 18 June: Germany vs India
- 21 June: Netherlands – India
- June 23: Pakistan vs India
- 25 June: England v India
- 26 June: India vs Pakistan
- 28 June: England v India
Indian women‘s Team – Ice Hockey Nations CupLamps
- June 15: India vs USA
- 16 June: India vs Japan
- June 18: India – Uruguay
- June 20-21: Elimination/Classification Matches.
The FIH Indian Men’s Professional League games will be televised on Star Sports Select 1, Select 2 and Star Sports Khel and will be streamed live on JioHotstar, while the FIH Hockey Nations Cup matches of the Indian women’s hockey team will be streamed live on Watch.Hockey for free.