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Hockey World Cup 2026: New format, India schedule, streaming
The FIH Hockey World Cup is a big hockey competition where the best teams in the world play each other.
This year both the men's and women's tournaments are happening in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Each tournament has 16 teams, and the games run from August 15 to 30.
This year there is a brand new format, so the quarterfinals have been removed.
Instead, the top teams play a second round of pool matches.
Teams also carry forward the points they earned in the first round.
India's men's team, led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, is in Pool D with England, Pakistan and Wales.
India's women's team, led by Salima Tete, will face China, South Africa and England.
India's men are chasing their first World Cup title since 1975, while the women are aiming for their first medal.
In India, fans can watch the matches live on Star Sports or stream them on Jiostar.
The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 runs from August 15 to 30 in Belgium and the Netherlands, with 16 teams in both the men's and women's tournaments.
For the first time, the quarterfinal stage has been scrapped and replaced by a second pool phase, with qualifying teams carrying forward points from the opening round.
India's men's team, captained by Harmanpreet Singh, is in Pool D with England, Pakistan and Wales, opening against Wales on August 15.
India's women's team, captained by Salima Tete, faces China, South Africa and England in Pool D, starting against China on August 16.
In India, matches will be broadcast live on Star Sports and streamed on Jiostar, with all of India's opening matches at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen.
- Who
- 16 men's and 16 women's national teams, including India's men's team led by Harmanpreet Singh and India's women's team led by Salima Tete
- What
- The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, which debuts a new format replacing the quarterfinal stage with a second pool phase where teams carry forward points
- Where
- Belgium and the Netherlands, at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen and the Belfius Arena in Wavre
- When
- August 15 to 30, 2026
- Why
- To compete for the biggest prize in international hockey in the men's and women's World Cups
Key facts
- Event
- FIH Hockey World Cup 2026
- Hosts
- Belgium and Netherlands
- Dates
- August 15-30, 2026
- Teams
- 16 men's and 16 women's national teams
- Venues
- Wagener Stadium (Amstelveen), Belfius Arena (Wavre)
- Format change
- Quarterfinals scrapped; second pool phase (Pools E and F) introduced with points carried forward
- India captains
- Men: Harmanpreet Singh; Women: Salima Tete
- India broadcast
- Star Sports (TV), Jiostar (streaming)
Sources
FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 format explained: How the new tournament structure will work as 16 teams aim for glory
Hockey World Cup 2026 New Format Explained: No Quarterfinals, New Second Round Pool Stage Introduced
FIH Hockey World Cup 2026: New format, India schedule, live streaming and everything you need to know
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