Indian Hockey Team's Exciting 2026 Schedule: Key Tournaments Ahead
A Promising Year for Indian Hockey
The Indian Hockey team is gearing up for an exhilarating 2026, following a year filled with notable accomplishments. The upcoming year promises a busy calendar packed with prestigious international tournaments.
As highlighted in a recent announcement from Hockey India, the team will aim for glory in the FIH Men’s World Cup while also defending their title at the Asian Games in Japan.
The new year will kick off with the second season of the Hockey India League (HIL), which successfully returned last year. The Women’s HIL will wrap up on January 10 in Ranchi, while the Men’s Hero HIL is set to take place from January 3 to January 26. Matches will be hosted in Chennai, Ranchi, and Bhubaneswar, culminating in the final at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
After the domestic league, the men’s squad will participate in the Indian leg of the FIH Pro League at Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela from February 10-15, followed by fixtures in Australia from February 21-25. The team will then head to the Netherlands and the UK for additional Pro League matches in June.
Meanwhile, the women’s team will face off in the World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad from March 8-14. This tournament is crucial for securing a spot in the 2026 FIH Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands. The qualifiers will see tough competition from teams like England, Scotland, Korea, Italy, Uruguay, Wales, and Austria.
August will mark one of the year’s highlights with the FIH Hockey World Cup, co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, scheduled for August 14-30. This event presents an opportunity for the team to build on their recent Olympic achievements and strive for a podium finish.
In September, both teams will travel to Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, for the 20th Asian Games, taking place from September 19 to October 4. As the reigning champions, the Indian Men’s team will aim to defend their title and secure direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
In addition to these international events, Hockey India is dedicated to grassroots development, planning an extensive domestic calendar to provide competitive opportunities for younger players and scout emerging talent for the senior national teams.
Indian Hockey Team Calendar for 2026:
- Men’s Hero Hockey India League: January 3-26, 2026
- Women’s Hero Hockey India League: December 28, 2025 - January 10, 2026
- FIH Men’s Pro League (India): February 10-15, 2026
- FIH Men’s Pro League (Australia): February 21-25, 2026
- FIH Men’s Pro League (Netherlands & UK): June 14-28, 2026
- World Cup Qualifiers (Women’s): March 8-14, 2026
- FIH Hockey World Cup: August 15-30, 2026
- 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games: September 19 - October 4, 2026
- Nations Cup: TBC