India is among leading Asian hockey playing countries at this year’s World Cup starting August 15 in Europe. Japan, Malaysia and Pakistan are other Asian countries in the men’s group. 32 teams, including 16 in the women’s group will compete for World Cup trophy.

As the international hockey community celebrates ‘World Hockey Day’ with 100 days to go for the prestigious 2026 World Cup starting August 15, certainly the Indian men’s team must have ticked all the boxes to give a good show at the global competition jointly hosted by Belgium and The Netherlands. 

India last won the World Cup in 1975. It has been 50 long years since the Indian men’s team have won the prestigious global hockey title. Will the current national team under the tutelage of foreign expert Craig Fulton repeat the 1975 World Cup feat in Europe?

In the women’s group three Asian countries will test their skills at the global platform. Apart from India, formidable China and Japan are two other Asian countries in fray.

The opening match of the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026 will be between Australian and Japanese in the women’s group.

Thirty-two teams, including 16 in the women’s group will vie for top honours during the prestigious World Cup to be held between August 15 to 30.

“Celebrating ‘World Hockey Day’ allows the global hockey community to unite around the joint objectives of developing our sport, reaching out to new communities, and contributing to a better world through hockey,” FIH website quoted FIH President Tayyab Ikram as saying.

EOM