As 2026 unfolds, the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams gear up for a demanding yet exciting international calendar. The official schedule on Hockey India’s website (hockeyindia.org/schedule/international-tournaments) highlights key upcoming events, offering home-crowd support in critical qualifiers and league legs while targeting qualification and strong performances in premier FIH competitions. India, a powerhouse in Asian hockey with recent Olympic success and consistent top rankings, aims to build on momentum through these high-stakes tournaments.
FIH Hockey Pro League 2025-26 (Men’s)
Dates: 10 February 2026 – 28 June 2026 (multi-leg format)
Venues: Includes Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, Rourkela (India home legs); Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart (Australia); Rotterdam, Netherlands; London, England.
This annual elite league features top nations (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, India, Netherlands, etc.) in a home-and-away format across global venues. India’s home matches in Rourkela provide a massive advantage with passionate support. Early fixtures include high-profile clashes, such as against Belgium in Rourkela around mid-February 2026. The Pro League serves as vital preparation and ranking points for the World Cup and Olympic cycles.
FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2026
Dates: 8 – 14 March 2026
Venue: G.M.C. Balayogi Hockey Ground, Hyderabad, Telangana, India (hosted by India)
India hosts one of the key qualifiers for the 2026 Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup. Participating teams include India, England, Scotland, Korea, Italy, Uruguay, Wales, and Austria. The short, intense tournament (preliminary round and knockouts) offers India an excellent opportunity to qualify directly while leveraging home conditions and local crowd energy. Full match schedules and timings are available on FIH and Hockey India platforms.
FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026
Dates: 14 – 30 August 2026
Venues: Wavre, Belgium and Amstelveen, Netherlands (co-hosted)
The premier global event crowns the world champion. India, as a top Asian side and regular qualifier, targets a strong campaign following their Pro League performances. The bi-nation format promises exciting matches across two iconic hockey nations.
Additional Context and Recent Activity
The Hockey India international tournaments page primarily lists major upcoming multi-team or league events. Earlier 2025 tours and junior tournaments (e.g., Tour of Australia 2025, Hero Asia Cup Rajgir Bihar 2025, FIH Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025, Sultan of Johor Cup 2025, 4 Nations events in Europe/South Africa/Rosario) have concluded or are recent history, providing valuable preparation and exposure for senior and junior squads.
Domestic leagues like the Hero Hockey India League (Men’s: January 2026; Women’s: late 2025–early 2026) complement the international schedule by offering competitive practice against international talent.
India’s Aspirations in 2026
With home hosting for the Women’s World Cup Qualifier and Pro League legs, plus participation in the Men’s World Cup, 2026 represents a pivotal year for building depth, testing combinations, and chasing medals/qualifications. Fans can follow live updates, fixtures, and results on hockeyindia.org and FIH channels.
Stay tuned to the official Hockey India schedule page for the latest fixtures, team announcements, and ticket information as the season progresses. Indian hockey continues its upward trajectory—2026 promises thrilling action!
