Hockey World Cup 2026 Live in India: The hockey sticks are ready, the world’s top teams are assembled, and Indian fans have another major international tournament to follow on screens this August. The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 begins on Saturday, August 15, with Belgium and the Netherlands jointly hosting the men’s and women’s competitions.
For India, the tournament starts with an immediate spotlight on the men, who face Wales on August 15, while the women open their campaign against China on August 16. Both Indian teams will play their opening-round matches at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands. The tournament runs until August 30 and features 16 teams in each gender competition.
The men enter the competition looking to end a 51-year wait for a World Cup title, with India’s only triumph coming in 1975. The women, meanwhile, are aiming to improve on their historical record and push for their first World Cup medal.
How To Watch Hockey World Cup 2026 Live in India Online
Indian viewers can watch the complete Hockey World Cup 2026 coverage through JioHotstar, while television coverage will be available on the Star Sports Network.
JioStar has confirmed live coverage of all 68 matches from the men’s and women’s competitions on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network.
Hockey World Cup 2026 Live Streaming in India
The online destination for viewers in India is JioHotstar.
Fans can use the JioHotstar website or app to follow live matches on supported devices. The tournament’s television partner is the Star Sports Network, giving viewers both streaming and TV options.
For India’s opening men’s match, the fixture list from Hockey India shows India vs Wales at 4:30 PM IST on August 15.
How To Watch Hockey World Cup 2026 Live in India for Free
You can watch the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 live in India for free on DD Sports. All matches involving the Indian men’s and women’s teams will be available free-to-air on the DD Free Dish satellite platform.
When Does the 2026 Hockey World Cup Begin?
The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 begins on August 15, 2026, and the tournament runs through August 30.
Belgium and the Netherlands are co-hosting the event, with the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen and the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre serving as the main venues.
The opening day includes India’s men’s clash against Wales at 4:30 PM IST.
Hockey World Cup 2026 Date and Time in India
For Indian viewers, India’s first three men’s pool matches are scheduled as follows:
| Date | Match | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 15 | India vs Wales | 4:30 PM | Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen |
| August 17 | India vs England | 6:30 PM | Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen |
| August 19 | India vs Pakistan | 6:30 PM | Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen |
Hockey India’s official schedule confirms the three fixtures and timings.
The India-Pakistan match is likely to attract the biggest attention, but India will first need to collect points against Wales and England.
Hockey World Cup 2026: India’s Women’s Schedule
The Indian women’s team will begin its campaign one day after the men.
| Date | Match | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 16 | China vs India | 4:30 PM | Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen |
| August 18 | India vs South Africa | 6:30 PM | Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen |
| August 20 | India vs England | 6:30 PM | Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen |
The FIH and current tournament coverage confirm that India is in Women’s Pool D with China, England and South Africa.
Hockey World Cup 2026: India’s Men’s Team
India sits in Men’s Pool D alongside England, Pakistan and Wales.
The Indian men’s side will be led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, with experienced players such as Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Amit Rohidas and Jarmanpreet Singh forming the core of the squad.
India last won the Men’s Hockey World Cup in 1975, when the team claimed gold in Kuala Lumpur. The country had also won silver in 1973 and bronze in 1971. The 2026 campaign therefore represents another opportunity to end the long title drought.
India Men’s Squad for Hockey World Cup 2026
- Goalkeepers: Mohith HS, Suraj Karkera
- Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Yashdeep Siwach
- Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad
- Forwards: Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Abhishek
Hockey India confirmed the 20-member squad in July, with Harmanpreet named captain.
Hockey World Cup 2026: India’s Women’s Team
The women’s team enters the World Cup after winning the FIH Nations Cup in New Zealand, giving the squad confidence ahead of the tournament. Captain Salima Tete will lead a team that combines experienced players with several young members.
India’s best Women’s World Cup finish remains fourth place in 1974, when the first edition of the tournament took place. The team has since failed to reach the podium and will target a major improvement in 2026.
Indian Women’s Squad for Hockey World Cup 2026
- Goalkeepers: Savita Punia, Bichu Devi Kharibam
- Defenders: Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lalthantluangi, Jyoti, Shilpi Dabas
- Midfielders: Nikki Pradhan, Sakshi Rana, Sunelita Toppo, Salima Tete (captain), Neha, Deepika Soreng
- Forwards: Lalremsiami, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Navneet Kaur, Deepika Sehrawat, Ishika, Baljeet Kaur, Beauty Dungdung
Hockey India announced the 20-member women’s squad in July, with Salima Tete retaining the captaincy.
Hockey World Cup 2026 New Format
The 2026 tournament introduces a new three-stage competition format, making the first group games especially important.
The 16 teams in each competition begin in four pools of four. After the opening group phase, the top two teams from Pools A and D move into a new Pool E, while the top two from Pools B and C form Pool F.
The results against the team that a side has already faced in the first stage will carry forward into the second group phase. Each team then plays two additional matches against the new opponents in its group.
The top two teams from Pools E and F will qualify for the semi-finals. Teams finishing third and fourth in those groups will contest placement matches for positions five to eight, while the teams finishing in the lower groups will compete for positions nine to 16.
That format gives the opening matches greater importance because results can influence a team’s position in the next phase.
Hockey World Cup 2026 Teams
The tournament features 16 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams, meaning 32 national teams will compete across the two competitions.
Men’s Pools
- Pool A: Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, Japan
- Pool B: Belgium, Germany, France, Malaysia
- Pool C: Australia, Spain, Ireland, South Africa
- Pool D: England, India, Pakistan, Wales
Women’s Pools
- Pool A: Netherlands, Australia, Chile, Japan
- Pool B: Argentina, Germany, USA, Scotland
- Pool C: Belgium, Spain, New Zealand, Ireland
- Pool D: China, England, India, South Africa
The FIH confirmed the official pool draw in March 2026.
Hockey World Cup 2026 Venues
The tournament will use two main venues.
Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen, Netherlands: India will play all its opening-round matches at this venue.
Belfius Hockey Arena, Wavre, Belgium: The new Belgian venue will host the other half of the competition, including group-stage games involving the Belgian teams.
The venues will host both the men’s and women’s World Cups, creating a combined tournament format. FIH has also highlighted the simultaneous presentation of the men’s and women’s events as an important feature of the 2026 edition.
Can You Watch Hockey World Cup 2026 on ZEE5?
No, the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is not available for live streaming on ZEE5 in India. The tournament can be streamed live on JioHotstar, while television coverage is available on the Star Sports Network and DD Sports.
Can You Watch Hockey World Cup 2026 on Hotstar?
Yes, you can watch the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 live on JioHotstar, formerly known as Hotstar. The tournament begins on August 15, 2026, with all 100 men’s and women’s matches available for live streaming on the platform.
Hockey World Cup 2026 Live on TV in India
The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 will be broadcast live in India on the Star Sports Network, with Star Sports Select 2, Star Sports Select 2 HD and Star Sports Khel carrying the tournament. All of India’s matches will also be available free-to-air on DD Sports for DD Free Dish viewers.
FIH Hockey World Cup 2026: TV Channels & Digital Streaming
- Star Sports Select 2 & Select 2 HD: Live coverage with English and Hindi commentary for India matches.
- Star Sports Khel: Hindi-language broadcast coverage.
- DD Sports: Free-to-air telecast of India matches for DD Free Dish users.
- JioHotstar: Live streaming of all 100 matches from the men’s and women’s tournaments.
India’s World Cup Campaign: What Is at Stake?
The men’s team enters the tournament with a clear historical target. India has waited since 1975 for another World Cup title and has also endured a long wait for a World Cup medal. The 2026 tournament gives Harmanpreet Singh and his teammates another opportunity to change that record.
The women arrive with renewed confidence after their Nations Cup triumph and will aim to build on that momentum. The team has set its sights on reaching the latter stages after several World Cup campaigns without a medal.
Hockey World Cup 2026 Live in India: Key Details
- Tournament: FIH Hockey World Cup 2026
- Dates: August 15 to August 30, 2026
- Hosts: Belgium and the Netherlands
- Venues: Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen; Belfius Hockey Arena, Wavre
- India men: Pool D with England, Pakistan and Wales
- India women: Pool D with China, South Africa and England
- TV: Star Sports Network
- Streaming: JioHotstar
- India men’s opener: India vs Wales, August 15, 4:30 PM IST
- India women’s opener: China vs India, August 16, 4:30 PM IST
Hockey World Cup 2026 Live Streaming: What Indian Fans Need to Know
The 2026 edition offers an unusually packed schedule for Indian hockey fans, with the men’s and women’s World Cups taking place together and both Indian teams playing their opening-round matches in Amstelveen.
The most important dates are August 15 for India vs Wales, August 17 for India vs England, and August 19 for India vs Pakistan in the men’s competition. The women then face China on August 16, South Africa on August 18 and England on August 20.
With the new format carrying some first-stage results into the next round, every early match could have a major impact on the road to the knockout stage.
