Pakistan has announced its 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Abu Bakr Mahmood leading the team. The tournament will take place in the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30, marking Pakistan's return after an eight-year absence.
Oman will replace Pakistan in the FIH Men's Junior World after the latter withdraw from the tournament to be held in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 till December 10, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed on Wednesday.
India's men's and women's hockey teams will kick off their 2026-27 FIH Pro League home campaigns in February. The men's team will face Germany, Argentina, Britain, and Spain, while the women's team will compete against Britain and Spain during the home leg from February 13 to 28.
India is set to face England in a critical FIH Men's Hockey World Cup Pool D match, aiming to overcome a 32-year World Cup drought against their European rivals. Following an opening win against Wales, India seeks to improve its performance, particularly in open play finishing, against a strong England side that started with a dominant victory over Pakistan. The outcome of this match is crucial for both teams' progression to the knockout stages.
India's men's and women's hockey teams will kick off their 2026-27 FIH Pro League home campaigns in February. The men's team will face Germany, Argentina, Britain, and Spain, while the women's team will compete against Britain and Spain during the home leg in New Delhi.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday unveiled logo of 2023 FIH Men's Hockey World Cup
India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 in their final Pool D match of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Harmanpreet Singh and Abhishek scoring two goals each. Vice-captain Hardik Singh also contributed to India's victory, while Pakistan managed to reduce the margin with goals from Hannan Shahid and Sufyan Khan.
International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Tayyab Ikram has commended India's professional approach to hockey, urging other Asian nations to adopt similar strategies to improve their global standing. He highlighted India's journey from past Olympic glory to recent bronze medals, positioning it as a model for development in the sport.
The current FIH Hockey World Cup format, featuring a crossover pool system where first-round results carry forward, is causing widespread confusion among teams, fans, and media. Many stakeholders believe the complex system detracts from the game's excitement, shifts focus to mathematical calculations, and potentially favours larger teams, leading to calls for a simpler structure.
The Indian men's hockey team lost 1-3 to Olympic champions the Netherlands in a critical second-round match of the FIH World Cup in Amstelveen. The Netherlands scored three field goals in the second half, while India's sole goal came from a Harmanpreet Singh penalty corner.
Indian hockey vice-captain Hardik Singh stated that the new orange-coloured jersey for the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup is a 'team strategy' and a 'tactic' to avoid clashes with the blue Astroturf, a decision that has sparked controversy.
The Indian men's hockey team's forward line, including Mandeep Singh, Abhishek, and Shilanand Lakra, is meticulously preparing for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup. They are focusing on chemistry, consistency, and the evolving role of modern forwards, which now includes being the first line of defence. Senior players like Mandeep are mentoring younger talents, emphasising teamwork, mental fortitude, and converting chances.
For the first time since 1998, no Indian umpire or technical official will be present at the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, a situation that has left former international officials disappointed and calling for a structured pathway to develop and support Indian officiating talent.
The Indian men's hockey team was defeated by England 1-4 in a penalty shootout after their FIH Pro League match ended in a 2-2 draw during regulation time. Dilpreet Singh scored both goals for India, while David Goodfield and Nicholas Bandurak netted for England. England secured the bonus point with a dominant shootout performance at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre.
The Indian men's hockey team finished eighth in the FIH World Cup campaign after losing 3-4 in a shoot-out to co-hosts Belgium. The match ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw in regulation time, with Harmanpreet Singh scoring a brace for India.
India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in a crucial FIH Men's Hockey World Cup Pool D match, needing at least a draw to advance, while Pakistan must win to stay in the tournament.
Germany retained the Men's Hockey World Cup with a disciplined 1-0 victory over Spain, matching Pakistan's record four titles, while Argentina secured bronze by defeating the Netherlands.
India went down fighting 3-4 in the penalty shootout against Spain following a tense 1-1 draw in regulation time during the FIH men's Pro League 2025-26 match in Hobart on Tuesday.
Veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh equalled former skipper Dilip Tirkey's record of 412 international appearances for India, but the Indian hockey team lost 2-3 to the Netherlands in the FIH Men's Pro League. Hockey India officials congratulated Manpreet on his significant milestone.
India faces a tough challenge against world No. 3 England in a crucial FIH Men's Hockey World Cup Pool D match. India, coming off a win against Wales, needs to improve its open play finishing and overcome a 32-year World Cup jinx against England. The outcome will significantly impact their path to the knockout stages.
India has announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Harmanpreet Singh leading the team.
The Indian sub-junior men's hockey team secured the gold medal at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship by defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1. This victory also ensured their qualification for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup. The Indian women's team also earned a silver medal, and Hockey India announced cash rewards for both squads.
Pakistan hockey captain Abu Bakar Mahmood expressed confidence in his team's ability to defeat arch-rivals India at the upcoming FIH World Cup, stating that "rankings don't matter" in such high-stakes encounters and performance on the day is key.
India has announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Harmanpreet Singh leading the team.
Former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha has publicly questioned Hockey India's decision to switch the national team's jersey colour to orange, arguing that the team's identity and legacy have always been associated with blue.
The Indian men's hockey team secured a dominant 16-1 victory over Sri Lanka in their second Pool A match at the Asian Games, with Jugraj Singh, Abhishek, and Dilpreet Singh each scoring hat-tricks. This win follows an earlier 13-1 triumph against Indonesia, as the team prepares for tougher challenges against South Korea and Japan.
Indian women's hockey team goalkeeper Bichu Devi Karibam and Pakistan striker Abdul Rehman have been honoured with the Poligras Magic Skill Awards for their outstanding performances at the recent FIH World Cup. The awards, decided by fan votes, recognised Devi's crucial save and Rehman's exceptional 3D skills.
The Indian men's hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, is determined to end a 51-year World Cup drought, beginning their campaign against Wales with genuine optimism following recent Olympic bronze medals and an Asia Cup title.
Indian men's hockey team goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak returns to the squad after a nine-month absence for the Asian Champions Trophy. He focused on improving his game in Bengaluru and is excited to play in his hometown of Jalandhar. India, defending champions, will start their campaign on October 27.
Hockey India has defended its decision to change the national men's and women's hockey teams' jerseys to saffron for the upcoming FIH World Cup, citing technical feedback and the symbolic value of the colour.
Harmanpreet Singh returns to captain a 24-member Indian men's hockey squad for the European leg of the FIH Pro League, a crucial preparatory competition ahead of the World Cup in August.
Indian men's hockey coach Craig Fulton discusses the team's recent successes, including defending the Asian Games gold and securing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He surprisingly rates the Paris Olympics bronze medal as his most satisfying achievement, highlighting the team's strategic planning and resilience. Fulton also outlines the team's future transition plans, focusing on upcoming tournaments and developing new talent for LA 2028.
The Indian men's hockey team, currently in the Dutch leg of the FIH Pro League, aims to conclude their campaign on a high note against hosts Netherlands. This tournament serves as crucial preparation for the upcoming World Cup and Asian Games, with coach Craig Fulton focusing on testing resources and addressing issues like conceding late goals. The team also looks forward to significant matches against England and arch-rivals Pakistan in London.
Having registered a ninth-place finish in the 2023 edition held at Bhubaneswar, India will be aiming to bring the gold home, riding on the back of the momentum of two back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, an Asia Cup title win, two Asian Champions Trophy wins and an Asia Cup gold.
India lost to Belgium 3-1 in the FIH Men's Pro League 2024-25 match in Rourkela, with Belgium scoring two goals in the final quarter to secure the win.
Former India captain Viren Rasquinha warns that an Asian Games gold could paper over deeper problems in Indian men's hockey after their disappointing World Cup campaign.
The Indian men's and women's hockey teams commence their Asian Games campaign in Japan, with both aiming for a gold medal to secure direct qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics. The men's team seeks to recover from a recent World Cup slump, while the women's team looks to build on their strong World Cup performance, facing significant challenges from opponents like China.
India's hopes for a comeback in the FIH Men's Pro League were thwarted by a 2-0 defeat to Spain, marking a continuation of their struggling form. Goals from Ignacio Abajo and Ignacio Cobos secured the victory for Spain, who displayed both clinical finishing and strong defense.
Pakistan has formally requested the Asian Hockey Federation to move its Asian Champions Trophy matches from India to a neutral venue, citing a "sensitive bilateral situation" and security concerns. The tournament is scheduled for October 27 to November 5 in Mohali and Jalandhar. This request follows earlier claims of Pakistan's participation and past withdrawals from events in India.
Refusing to travel to India citing "sensitive bilateral situation", Pakistan on Wednesday asked the Asian Hockey Federation to shift its Asian Champions Trophy matches to a neutral venue.
