India captain Harmanpeet Singh (Image credit: Hockey India)The much-awaited 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup is set to begin in the Netherlands and Belgium. The 15-day tournament will be held at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen and the newly built Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre.The 16-team tournament will feature a new format this year. The traditional quarterfinal stage has been replaced by a second group stage, meaning every team will play at least five matches before the knockout rounds.India have been placed in Pool D alongside England, Pakistan and Wales. The Harmanpreet Singh-led side will begin its campaign against Wales on August 15 before taking on England and Pakistan.When does the Hockey World Cup 2026 start?The men’s Hockey World Cup will get underway on Saturday, August 15. The tournament will conclude with the final on August 30.Hockey World Cup 2026: Which teams are playing?A total of 16 teams have been divided into four pools, with four teams in each group.PoolTeamsPool ANetherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, JapanPool BBelgium, Germany, France, MalaysiaPool CAustralia, Spain, Ireland, South AfricaPool DIndia, England, Pakistan, WalesIndia will open their campaign against Wales on August 15. They will then face England on August 17 before playing Pakistan on August 19.Hockey World Cup 2026: India’s matchesHockey World Cup 2026: India matchesDateMatchTime (IST)August 15India vs Wales4:30 PMAugust 17India vs England6:30 PMAugust 19Pakistan vs India6:30 PMHockey World Cup 2026: Full scheduleAugust 15Germany vs Malaysia — 6:00 PM (IST)India vs Wales — 4:30 PM (IST)England vs Pakistan — 10:30 PM (IST)August 16Belgium vs France — 12:30 AM (IST)Australia vs Ireland — 3:00 PM (IST)Spain vs South Africa — 6:00 PM (IST)Netherlands vs New Zealand — 7:30 PM (IST)Argentina vs Japan — 10:30 PM (IST)August 17Pakistan vs Wales — 4:00 PM (IST)France vs Malaysia — 5:30 PM (IST)India vs England — 6:30 PM (IST)August 18Germany vs Belgium — 12:00 AM (IST)New Zealand vs Japan — 1:00 PM (IST)Spain vs Australia — 5:30 PM (IST)Ireland vs South Africa — 8:30 PM (IST)Argentina vs Netherlands — 9:30 PM (IST)August 19England vs Wales — 4:00 PM (IST)Pakistan vs India — 6:30 PM (IST)France vs Germany — 8:30 PM (IST)August 20Belgium vs Malaysia — 12:00 AM (IST)Australia vs South Africa — 2:30 PM (IST)New Zealand vs Argentina — 4:00 PM (IST)Ireland vs Spain — 8:30 PM (IST)Netherlands vs Japan — 9:30 PM (IST)Second group stageThe second stage will begin on August 21. The teams finishing in the top two positions in each opening-round pool will move into Pools E and F. The remaining teams will enter the classification pools.August 213rd Pool B vs 4th Pool C — 2:30 PM (IST)3rd Pool C vs 4th Pool B — 5:30 PM (IST)1st Pool C vs 2nd Pool B — 8:30 PM (IST)August 221st Pool B vs 2nd Pool C — 12:00 AM (IST)3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool D — 1:30 PM (IST)3rd Pool D vs 4th Pool A — 4:30 PM (IST)1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool D — 7:30 PM (IST)1st Pool D vs 2nd Pool A — 10:30 PM (IST)August 234th Pool B vs 4th Pool C — 3:00 PM (IST)3rd Pool B vs 3rd Pool C — 6:00 PM (IST)1st Pool B vs 1st Pool C — 9:00 PM (IST)August 242nd Pool B vs 2nd Pool C — 12:00 AM (IST)4th Pool A vs 4th Pool D — 1:00 PM (IST)3rd Pool A vs 3rd Pool D — 4:00 PM (IST)2nd Pool A vs 2nd Pool D — 6:15 PM (IST)1st Pool A vs 1st Pool D — 9:30 PM (IST)Hockey World Cup 2026: Knockout stage and classification matchesThe classification and knockout matches will take place from August 28.August 2813th/14th Place — 1:00 PM (IST)15th/16th Place — 2:30 PM (IST)11th/12th Place — 4:00 PM (IST)9th/10th Place — 5:30 PM (IST)5th/6th Place — 6:30 PM (IST)7th/8th Place — 8:30 PM (IST)Semi-final 1 — 9:30 PM (IST)August 29Semi-final 2 — 12:00 AM (IST)August 30Bronze Medal Match — 5:30 PM (IST)Final — 8:00 PM (IST)