The international Hockey Federation has officially announced the upcoming hockey worldcup 2026 matches schedule, with Pakistan set to begin it’s opening day.
Pakistan will play their first match against England on August 15 in Amstelveen. They will then take on Wales on August 17, followed by a key clash against arch-rivals India on August 19, expected to be the biggest match of the group stage.
Pakistan Hockey Team – FIH World Cup Group Stage Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 15 | England | 10:00 PM | Amstelveen (Netherlands) |
| August 17 | Wales | 3:30 PM | Amstelveen (Netherlands) |
| August 19 | India | 6:00 PM | Amstelveen (Netherlands) |
The schedule was released after the official pool draw held earlier this week at Wagener Stadium. The event was attended by Tayyab Ikram, Marcos Hofman, as well as head coaches and captains from the Belgian and Dutch teams, along with other guests.
The tournament includes 16 teams, divided into four groups of four teams each. Pool A features co-hosts Netherlands, along with Japan, Argentina, and New Zealand. Pool B includes co-hosts Belgium, defending champions Germany, France, and Malaysia.
Pool C consists of Australia, Spain, Ireland, and South Africa. Pool D includes Pakistan along with India, England, and Wales.
According to the official FIH format, the top two teams from each pool will qualify for the next round, making a group of eight teams.
These teams will then be divided into two new pools. Pool E will include the top two teams from Pools A and D, while Pool F will consist of the top two teams from Pools B and C.
The top two teams from each of these pools will move on to the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals will then face each other in the final, which is scheduled for August 30 at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium.
