Sticks and goals: On India at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026
As India marks its 80th Independence Day, the national men's hockey squad will begin its World Cup journey facing Wales in Amstelveen, with the objective of concluding a 51-year-long medal famine. Given the profound sentiment attached to hockey across the country, this prolonged absence has been painful for the squad that holds eight Olympic titles. Their previous podium finish occurred when the squad led by Ajit Pal Singh claimed the championship in Kuala Lumpur back in 1975, before the introduction of artificial surfaces. Confidence in the current group, led by Harmanpreet Singh, has strengthened following the team's historic achievement of ending a 41-year Olympic medal drought by securing bronze at the Tokyo 2021 Games and successfully defending it at Paris 2024. Guided by head coach Craig Fulton, the squad captured the Asian Games gold in 2023, the Olympic bronze in 2024, and the Asia Cup in 2025, with this final triumph securing their spot at the World Cup. Even though they finished eighth in the 2025-26 FIH Pro League, the squad displayed encouraging moments by defeating reigning world champions Germany and Olympic titleholders the Netherlands. Following a phase that involved tactical trials, losses, and two major controversies—concerning the team's most-capped athlete, Manpreet Singh, and a controversial choice to switch their traditional blue uniform to saffron—the roster has reconvened for its initial World Cup appearance since the departure of iconic goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh. Following their clash with Wales, the squad, currently positioned eighth globally, will encounter a powerful English lineup and historic rivals Pakistan within their group stage.
Blending experienced double Olympic medal winners with talented up-and-coming players, the squad—which secured sixth and ninth places in the preceding two tournaments—now aims for a stronger standing at the World Cup before traveling next month to defend their Asian Games gold, a victory that would secure direct qualification for the 2028 Olympics. Meanwhile, the women’s squad, captained by Salima Tete, has undergone a successful reconstruction under Dutch mentor Sjoerd Marijne following a period of instability triggered first by the departure of the previous coach and subsequently by a sexual harassment allegation directed at a former official of Hockey India. Marijne, who previously led India to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Games during his initial tenure, successfully steered them through to World Cup qualification alongside a triumph at the Nations Cup. Even with the benefits gained from the Hockey India League and valuable competition against international competitors, this squad—featuring five athletes with over 200 international caps alongside 11 first-time players—might encounter difficulties in emulating the historic fourth-place result achieved in 1974. Positioned ninth in the global rankings, the Indian women face Olympic silver medalists China on August 16, followed by fixtures against South Africa and a higher-ranked England side. Their primary goal will be to surpass their ninth-place finish from 2022 before shifting their attention toward the upcoming Asian Games. For the very first time, the World Cup for men and women will bring together a total of 32 participating squads under an unfamiliar and demanding competition structure, with Belgium and the Netherlands serving as joint hosts. Both Indian national squads will need to function as unified collectives as they lay the groundwork for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.