Now Reading: India begin Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign against Wales
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India begin Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign against Wales
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…
The Story in Brief
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.
The Indian Opinion
The pre-tournament chatter about the jersey colour shift from blue to saffron has been a classic manufactured distraction. A team that has not won a World Cup since 1975 does not lose because of a colour change, nor does it win because of one. Meanwhile, the narrative that India is a ‘rank outsider’ ignores its Asia Cup win and big-tournament experience. The real test is on the pitch: can Harmanpreet’s men string together four consistent knockout performances? Saturday’s result against Wales will tell us more than any boardroom decision ever could.
Sources (3): telanganatoday.com, thehindu.com, hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
