The top two sides from each of the three groups, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals.
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's junior men's hockey team successfully defended their Asia Cup title, defeating Korea 4-1 in the final in Moqi, China. This victory marks their record sixth continental crown and secures their spot in the upcoming World Cup. The team displayed a dominant performance with goals from Ajeet Yadav, Anmol Ekka, Prabhdeep Singh, and Ashu Maurya.
Former India football coach Stephen Constantine has expressed deep disappointment over the national team's current decline, criticising the All India Football Federation for its decisions, including the appointment of Khalid Jamil as coach despite his lack of international experience. Constantine, who led India to a historic FIFA ranking of 96, believes he should still be managing the team and calls for wider structural reforms in Indian football.
India has withdrawn from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup to prioritise a high-profile international friendly against five-time world champions Brazil in October. This decision, confirmed by AIFF, means India will miss facing Southeast Asian teams in a FIFA-sanctioned competition, opting instead for a more challenging opponent to improve its international standing.
Karnataka's G Sindhushree, an unheralded pole vaulter, achieved a new national record of 4.25m at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar. This performance not only secured her a gold medal but also a spot in the Asian Games. Overcoming personal hardships, Sindhushree dedicated her achievement to her late father. The event also saw other athletes like Animesh Kujur, Harshita Bhadra, Manpreet Kaur, Gowthami Jayaraman, Mohammed Afsal, and N Thowfeeq qualify for the Asian Games in various disciplines.
A last-minute strike by Sunil Chhetri helped India break a 64-year-old jinx as they pipped Myanmar by a solitary goal to begin their AFC Asian Cup qualifiers campaign on a promising note, in Yangon, Myanmar on Tuesday.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met with Indian men's and women's hockey teams and officials to review their recent World Cup performance. He urged them to move past the disappointment, identify shortcomings, and focus on the upcoming Asian Games to secure qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics. The minister also discussed the future of the Hockey India League.
Three-times champions Iran cruised into the 2015 Asian Cup finals after thrashing Lebanon 4-1 on Tuesday, but China missed the chance to join them and face a nerve-jangling final qualifier after being held to a goalless draw by Saudi Arabia.
Anthony Andrews, a highly successful coach in Indian women's football, has been appointed as the assistant coach for the India U17 women's national team. He will continue his dual role with East Bengal FC while preparing the Young Tigresses for the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers.
The Supreme Court has intervened to allow international water sports coach Bilquis Mir to join the Indian National Kayaking and Canoeing Team for the Asian Games in Japan. Overruling a Jammu and Kashmir administration order that denied her permission due to pending inquiries, the apex court emphasised the time-sensitive nature of sports administration and directed the issuance of a No Objection Certificate by September 15, 2026.
India's women's hockey team faces a challenging opening match against Olympic silver medallists China in the FIH Hockey World Cup. The crucial Pool D encounter in Amstelveen will set the tone for India's campaign, with both teams also set to meet at the upcoming Asian Games. India, buoyed by recent strong performances and an experienced squad, aims to improve on past World Cup finishes and secure a positive start against a formidable Chinese side.
Harmanpreet Kaur was on Tuesday retained as captain of a largely predictable 15-member India squad for this year's Asian Games in Japan.
Indian men's football team on Tuesday qualified for the Asian Cup Finals after Palestine defeated Philippines in a group B match in Ulaanbaatar.
Despite a population of 1.45 billion, India's football team is ranked a lowly 138th in the world and failed to qualify for next year's Asian Cup, highlighting deep-rooted systemic issues and a failure to implement reforms that keep the World Cup dream distant for fans.
Reigning Indian Super League champions East Bengal are set to face Kuwaiti league runners-up Al Arabi SC in a critical AFC Champions League Two preliminary-stage knockout fixture. The single-leg qualifier will determine a spot in the group stage, with East Bengal navigating squad challenges under new coach Antonio Lopez Habas.
Yuki Bhambri and Sumit Nagal receive financial assistance to prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and Davis Cup, while Dhakshineswar Suresh joins the Target Asian Games Group.
The Indian U17 women's team is set to play China in the quarter-finals of the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup, with a spot in the 2026 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup at stake.
India's men's hockey team has announced its 20-member squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, featuring one change with midfielder Raj Kumar Pal replacing Aditya Arjun Lalage. Led by Harmanpreet Singh, the team aims for gold and direct qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics.
Veteran striker Navneet Kaur believes the Indian women's hockey team is inspired by the cricket team's ODI World Cup triumph and aims to script a similar title-winning story at the FIH Women's World Cup.
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.
India's Under-17 men's team faces Uzbekistan in their final AFC U-17 Asian Cup group match, with a win potentially securing qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The Federation Cup National Senior Athletics Competition in Ranchi will serve as the selection trial for the Asian U23 Athletics Championships. Athletes aged 20-22 are eligible, and the event also serves as a qualifier for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
India head coach Igor Stimac on Monday stated that his team has a great deal to learn from their Tuesday 2026 FIFA World Cup round 2 qualifying encounter against Asian champions Qatar.
Striker Jeje Lalpekhlua scored the winner as India beat Laos by a solitary goal in a play-off match to put themselves in a strong position of qualifying for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, in Vientiane, Laos, on Thursday.
The Indian women's hockey team secured a spot in the FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup despite finishing as runner-up in the Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, losing 2-4 to China in the final. The team had previously defeated Kazakhstan 8-1 in the semi-final.
The upcoming Women's Asia Cup in Dubai could reignite a controversy for the BCCI regarding the trophy presentation if India reaches the final, as Pakistan's Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the ACC chief, might be on the dais, recalling a similar incident with the men's team last year.
The Indian women's football team is set to compete in the FIFA Series 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, facing hosts Kenya in their opening match. Coach Crispin Chettri emphasises building for the future, focusing on the 2029 AFC Women's Asian Cup and the 2031 World Cup qualifiers.
Japan's Yuto Nagatomo made history by becoming the first Asian player to feature in five FIFA World Cups during Japan's 1-1 draw against Sweden. This achievement places him among an elite group of players globally. The draw secured both Japan and Sweden's advancement to the Round of 32 in the 2026 tournament.
Sixteen years ago, when India and Pakistan last met in a men's Hockey World Cup, the contest was more than just two arch-rivals facing each other. It was about settling an old score. And as the two teams prepare to meet again after 16 years, memories of that evening remain fresh for those who were part of it.
India a step closer to 2019 Asian Cup
India has announced its 20-member women's hockey squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Led by Salima Tete, the team aims to secure a gold medal, which would qualify them for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The squad features a mix of experienced players and promising juniors, with minor changes from the recent FIH Nations Cup-winning team.
Indian rifle shooters Sonam Uttam Maskar and Himanshu Dhillon have won a bronze medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou. This medal brings India's total tally to four, including one gold, one silver, and two bronze. Both athletes expressed confidence and motivation from this achievement, with Himanshu marking his maiden senior World Cup podium.
India's sub-junior men's and women's hockey teams secured impressive victories at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, extending their unbeaten runs. The women's team thrashed Kazakhstan 10-0, while the men's team defeated Bangladesh 8-3, showcasing strong performances in the tournament which serves as a World Cup qualifier.
India has announced its 20-member women's hockey squad, led by Salima Tete, for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. The team aims to secure a gold medal to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with minor changes to the strike force from the FIH Nations Cup winning side.
This is the third time the country has qualified for the continental showpiece.
The Indian men's senior football team and their head coach were denied entry to a press conference at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi due to a payment dispute between the Kerala Football Association and the stadium owners.
The Indian sub-junior boys' hockey team secured dominant victories against arch-rivals Pakistan (7-3) and hosts Oman (10-1) at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship. Meanwhile, the Indian sub-junior girls' team fought hard but lost 3-6 to China in their Elite Pool match. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.
Ashish Yadav clinched a silver medal in the men's javelin throw, marking India's first medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships. Pooja Singh also advanced to the women's high jump final, while other Indian athletes competed in various events, including the men's 400m and long jump, showcasing promising talent.
India is hosting its first international para archery event, the third stage of the 2026 Hyundai World Archery Para Series, in Ahmedabad. The competition features 109 archers from 19 countries and serves as a crucial build-up to the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games. World number one Sheetal Devi, along with other top Indian and international archers, will be competing for titles and world ranking points.
