India Drawn with Pakistan in FIH Hockey World Cup Group Stage

The Indian men’s hockey team has been drawn alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, England and Wales in Pool D of the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup (organised by the Fédération Internationale de Hockey), to be jointly hosted by Netherlands and Belgium later this year.

The draw ceremony was held at the iconic Wagener Stadium, where it was confirmed that India’s matches will be played in the Netherlands. The tournament is scheduled from August 15 to 30 , with the detailed match fixtures expected to be announced soon.

The India–Pakistan clash is set to be one of the most anticipated encounters of the group stage, given the long-standing rivalry between the two nations. England, another strong contender, makes Pool D particularly competitive, while Wales adds further depth to the group.

In the women’s competition, the Indian team has also been placed in Pool D , alongside China, England and South Africa. Like the men’s side, the women’s team will play all its matches in the Netherlands.

Reigning men’s champions Germany, who secured their third title in 2023 in Bhubaneswar after defeating Belgium, have been drawn in Pool B along with Belgium, France and Malaysia. Other pools feature top teams such as the Netherlands, Argentina and Australia, underlining the depth of competition across the tournament.

The draw was conducted by renowned hockey figures Naomie van As, Teun de Nooijer and Barbara Neelen, along with DJ La Fuente, who was also named the Dutch Ambassador for the event.

FIH president Tayyab Ikram described the draw as a significant step towards the marquee tournament. He highlighted that global sporting events like the World Cup can play an important role in bringing people together and fostering peace , especially in challenging times.

The tournament, co-hosted by two of hockey’s traditional powerhouses, is expected to showcase top international talent and deliver high-quality competition.