# India begin Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign against Wales 2026-08-14T14:33:42+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 begins on August 15 in Belgium and the Netherlands. India’s men’s team face Wales in their opener on Saturday, while the women’s team start against China on Sunday. The men are chasing a first World Cup title since 1975, having won the 2025 Asia Cup. The women have never won the crown. All 100 matches will stream live on JioHotstar; India’s games will also air on Star Sports with English and Hindi commentary. India are drawn in a tough pool with England and Pakistan after Wales. The new format means only the top two from each first-round group advance to a second stage, with carried-over points making every result critical. Captain Harmanpreet Singh leads a squad that includes veterans Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh, but the side has slipped to No. 8 in the rankings after a poor Pro League campaign. Goalkeeper Suraj Karkera and debutant Mohith H.S. have impressed in the absence of retired legend P.R. Sreejesh. ## Coverage - telanganatoday.com - thehindu.com - hindustantimes.com Tags: Belgium, Hockey World Cup 2026, India men's hockey team, India women's hockey team, Netherlands Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/india-men-and-women-open-hockey-world-cup-2026-in-europe/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/india-men-and-women-open-hockey-world-cup-2026-in-europe/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.