India will begin their campaigns at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 on Saturday, with the men’s and women’s teams set to play their pool matches at the Wagener Stadion in Amstelveen. The men’s and women’s tournaments are being held simultaneously in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30.The Indian men’s team, captained by Harmanpreet Singh, has been placed in Pool D alongside England, Pakistan and Wales. India will open their campaign against Wales on August 15 before facing England and Pakistan, with the India-Pakistan clash scheduled for August 19.The women’s team, led by Salima Tete, is also in Pool D, alongside the People’s Republic of China, England and South Africa. India’s women will begin against China on August 16.Also Read: Employee says salary discussion with colleague lead to a warning from manager and meeting with HRIndia men aim to end 51-year World Cup waitHarmanpreet will lead India in his second Hockey World Cup as captain, following his stint at the 2023 edition. He becomes only the second Indian captain after Ajit Pal Singh to lead the country at two World Cups.Ajit Pal captained India at the 1971 World Cup before returning as skipper in 1975, when India won their only title. The men’s team will now seek to end a 51-year wait for another World Cup triumph.Mandeep Singh and Manpreet Singh are set to make their fourth World Cup appearances. Manpreet has 417 international appearances, a new Indian record, and will enter the tournament as its most-capped player.Women’s team has five players with 200-plus capsIndia’s women’s squad also features significant international experience. Five players have crossed the 200-cap mark, with goalkeeper Savita Punia leading the group with 313 appearances. She is also the most-capped player among all teams competing at the Women’s World Cup.India have yet to win the women’s Hockey World Cup, while the Netherlands enter the tournament as the reigning champions and the most successful team in the competition’s history with nine titles.In the men’s tournament, Pakistan have won the World Cup four times, making them the most successful team in the competition. Germany are the defending champions.New World Cup format explainedUnder the new FIH World Cup format, the 16 participating teams are divided into four pools of four. Each team plays three matches in the opening stage.The top two teams from each pool progress to crossover Pools E and F, while the bottom two teams move into Pools G and H. After three additional matches, the top two teams from Pools E and F qualify directly for the semi-finals. The remaining teams play classification matches to determine positions from fifth to 16th.India Hockey World Cup 2026 scheduleMenAugust 15: India vs Wales, 4:30 PMAugust 17: India vs England, 6:30 PMAugust 19: India vs Pakistan, 6:30 PMAugust 22-24: Crossover matches, subject to qualificationAugust 28: Classification match/semi-final, subject to qualificationAugust 30: Third-place playoff/final, subject to qualificationWomenAugust 16: India vs China, 4:30 PMAugust 18: India vs South Africa, 6:30 PMAugust 20: India vs England, 6:30 PMAugust 22-25: Crossover matches, subject to qualificationAugust 27-28: Classification match/semi-final, subject to qualificationAugust 29: Third-place playoff/final, subject to qualificationAll timings are in Indian Standard Time.Where to watch Hockey World Cup 2026 in IndiaLive streaming of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 will be available on JioHotstar. Television coverage in India will be available on Star Sports Select 2 (SD+HD), Star Sports Khel and DD Sports on DD Free Dish.India squads for Hockey World Cup 2026Men: Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Mohith HS, Suraj Karkera, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Yashdeep Siwach, Rajinder Singh, Aditya Lalage, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Prasad, Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Abhishek.Women: Salima Tete (captain), Savita Punia, Bichu Devi Kharibam, Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lalthantluangi, Jyoti, Shilpi Dabas, Nikki Pradhan, Sakshi Rana, Sunelita Toppo, Neha, Deepika Soreng, Lalremsiami Hmarzote, Rutuja Pisal, Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Ishika, Baljeet Kaur, Beauty Dungdung.All matchesWomenDateMatchTime (IST)TeamsSat, 15 Aug 2026113:30Australia vs JapanSat, 15 Aug 2026215:00Germany vs ScotlandSat, 15 Aug 2026319:30Netherlands vs ChileSat, 15 Aug 2026421:00Argentina vs United StatesSun, 16 Aug 2026513:30England vs South AfricaSun, 16 Aug 2026616:30China vs IndiaSun, 16 Aug 2026721:00Belgium vs New ZealandMon, 17 Aug 2026800:00Spain vs IrelandMon, 17 Aug 2026913:00Chile vs JapanMon, 17 Aug 20261014:30United States vs ScotlandMon, 17 Aug 20261120:30Germany vs ArgentinaMon, 17 Aug 20261221:30Australia vs NetherlandsTue, 18 Aug 20261314:30New Zealand vs IrelandTue, 18 Aug 20261416:00England vs ChinaTue, 18 Aug 20261518:30India vs South AfricaWed, 19 Aug 20261600:00Spain vs BelgiumWed, 19 Aug 20261713:00Chile vs AustraliaWed, 19 Aug 20261814:30Argentina vs ScotlandWed, 19 Aug 20261917:30United States vs GermanyWed, 19 Aug 20262021:30Netherlands vs JapanThu, 20 Aug 20262113:00China vs South AfricaThu, 20 Aug 20262217:30New Zealand vs SpainThu, 20 Aug 20262318:30India vs EnglandFri, 21 Aug 20262400:00Belgium vs IrelandFri, 21 Aug 20262513:003rd Pool D vs 4th Pool AFri, 21 Aug 20262616:003rd Pool A vs 4th Pool DFri, 21 Aug 20262718:301st Pool D vs 2nd Pool AFri, 21 Aug 20262821:301st Pool A vs 2nd Pool DSat, 22 Aug 20262915:003rd Pool C vs 4th Pool BSat, 22 Aug 20263018:003rd Pool B vs 4th Pool CSat, 22 Aug 20263121:001st Pool C vs 2nd Pool BSun, 23 Aug 20263200:001st Pool B vs 2nd Pool CSun, 23 Aug 20263313:304th Pool A vs 4th Pool DSun, 23 Aug 20263416:303rd Pool A vs 3rd Pool DSun, 23 Aug 20263519:301st Pool A vs 1st Pool DSun, 23 Aug 20263622:302nd Pool A vs 2nd Pool DMon, 24 Aug 20263714:304th Pool C vs 4th Pool BMon, 24 Aug 20263817:303rd Pool C vs 3rd Pool BMon, 24 Aug 20263920:302nd Pool C vs 2nd Pool BTue, 25 Aug 20264000:001st Pool C vs 1st Pool BThu, 27 Aug 20264113:003rd Pool G vs 3rd Pool HThu, 27 Aug 20264214:304th Pool G vs 4th Pool HThu, 27 Aug 20264316:002nd Pool G vs 2nd Pool HThu, 27 Aug 20264417:301st Pool G vs 1st Pool HThu, 27 Aug 20264518:303rd Pool E vs 3rd Pool FThu, 27 Aug 20264620:304th Pool E vs 4th Pool FThu, 27 Aug 20264721:301st Pool E vs 2nd Pool FFri, 28 Aug 20264800:001st Pool F vs 2nd Pool ESat, 29 Aug 20264916:30Loser 47 vs Loser 48Sat, 29 Aug 20265019:30Winner 47 vs Winner 48MenDateMatchTime (IST)TeamsSat, 15 Aug 2026116:30India vs WalesSat, 15 Aug 2026218:00Germany vs MalaysiaSat, 15 Aug 2026322:30England vs PakistanSun, 16 Aug 2026400:30Belgium vs FranceSun, 16 Aug 2026515:00Australia vs IrelandSun, 16 Aug 2026618:00Spain vs South AfricaSun, 16 Aug 2026719:30Netherlands vs New ZealandSun, 16 Aug 2026822:30Argentina vs JapanMon, 17 Aug 2026916:00Pakistan vs WalesMon, 17 Aug 20261017:30France vs MalaysiaMon, 17 Aug 20261118:30India vs EnglandTue, 18 Aug 20261200:00Germany vs BelgiumTue, 18 Aug 20261313:00New Zealand vs JapanTue, 18 Aug 20261417:30Spain vs AustraliaTue, 18 Aug 20261520:30Ireland vs South AfricaTue, 18 Aug 20261621:30Argentina vs NetherlandsWed, 19 Aug 20261716:00England vs WalesWed, 19 Aug 20261818:30Pakistan vs IndiaWed, 19 Aug 20261920:30France vs GermanyThu, 20 Aug 20262000:00Belgium vs MalaysiaThu, 20 Aug 20262114:30Australia vs South AfricaThu, 20 Aug 20262216:00New Zealand vs ArgentinaThu, 20 Aug 20262320:30Ireland vs SpainThu, 20 Aug 20262421:30Netherlands vs JapanFri, 21 Aug 20262514:303rd Pool B vs 4th Pool CFri, 21 Aug 20262617:303rd Pool C vs 4th Pool BFri, 21 Aug 20262720:301st Pool C vs 2nd Pool BSat, 22 Aug 20262800:001st Pool B vs 2nd Pool CSat, 22 Aug 20262913:303rd Pool A vs 4th Pool DSat, 22 Aug 20263016:303rd Pool D vs 4th Pool ASat, 22 Aug 20263119:301st Pool A vs 2nd Pool DSat, 22 Aug 20263222:301st Pool D vs 2nd Pool ASun, 23 Aug 20263315:004th Pool B vs 4th Pool CSun, 23 Aug 20263418:003rd Pool B vs 3rd Pool CSun, 23 Aug 20263521:001st Pool B vs 1st Pool CMon, 24 Aug 20263600:002nd Pool B vs 2nd Pool CMon, 24 Aug 20263713:004th Pool A vs 4th Pool DMon, 24 Aug 20263816:003rd Pool A vs 3rd Pool DMon, 24 Aug 20263918:152nd Pool A vs 2nd Pool DMon, 24 Aug 20264021:301st Pool A vs 1st Pool DFri, 28 Aug 20264113:003rd Pool G vs 3rd Pool HFri, 28 Aug 20264214:304th Pool G vs 4th Pool HFri, 28 Aug 20264316:002nd Pool G vs 2nd Pool HFri, 28 Aug 20264417:301st Pool G vs 1st Pool HFri, 28 Aug 20264518:303rd Pool E vs 3rd Pool FFri, 28 Aug 20264620:304th Pool E vs 4th Pool FFri, 28 Aug 20264721:301st Pool E vs 2nd Pool FSat, 29 Aug 20264800:001st Pool F vs 2nd Pool ESun, 30 Aug 20264917:30Loser 47 vs Loser 48Sun, 30 Aug 20265020:00Winner 47 vs Winner 48