Indian hockey World Cup 2026 team captain Harmanpreet Singh. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
India will clash with arch-rivals Pakistan in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen in Netherlands on Wednesday (August 19, 2026). It will be the first clash between the two sides at the men’s Hockey World Cup in 16 years, since India’s 4-1 victory in New Delhi on March 4, 2010.
The clash will begin at 3 p.m. local time (6.30 p.m. IST and 6 p.m. in Pakistan). Both teams require a strong performance to boost their chances of progressing to the second round.
India has been drawn in Pool D alongside England, Pakistan and Wales, with all its group-stage matches being played in Amstelveen in the Netherlands.
When and where to watch Ind vs Pak match
The match will be telecast live on Star Sports and can be streamed on JioHotstar in India.
Drag-flick specialist Harmanpreet Singh, who captained India to the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024, will lead the side. Abu Bakar Mahmood will captain Pakistan’s 20-member squad.
India’s edge over Pakistan
India goes into the match placed second in Pool D with three points from two games and needs at least a draw to secure qualification for the next round. On the other hand, Pakistan, with one point, must win to keep its World Cup campaign alive.
India began its campaign with a 3-1 win over Wales before suffering a 2-4 defeat to England. Pakistan drew with Wales but then lost 1-4 to England.
India has remained unbeaten against Pakistan in 19 meetings since 2016, winning 17 matches and drawing two. The Indian side also registered 4-3 and 7-1 victories over Pakistan in the Pro League in London in June this year.
Pakistan has not beaten India at a World Cup since 1986. However, it retains the historical advantage, having won the World Cup title four times, compared to India’s lone triumph in 1975.
India squad
Mohith HS, Suraj Karkera, Jarmanpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Yashdeep Siwach, Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad
Pakistan squad
Waqar, Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Sufyan Khan, Moeen Shakeel, Abdul Waheed Ashraf Rana, Abdul Hanan Shahid, Zakaria Hayat, Arshad Liaqat, Adil Latif, Ahmed Nadeem, Ghazanfar Ali, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Muhammad Hammaduddin Anjum, Rehman Abdul, Afraz, Umar Mustafa, Abu Bakar Mahmood (captain), Ali Raza, Abdul Manan and Muhammad Ammad.
Published – August 19, 2026 03:05 pm IST
