India will kick off the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign against Wales on Saturday, August 15, with Harmanpreet Singh’s side aiming to end the 51-year wait for a second World Cup title.
India’s only triumph came in 1975 when Ajit Pal Singh led the team to victory over Pakistan in the final. But it’s been a struggle for the team since the triumph, with the team failing to make the top four. However, their recent Olympic record offers reason for optimism, with India winning back-to-back bronze medals in Tokyo and Paris.
India will also enter the Hockey World Cup after an encouraging finish to their FIH Pro League campaign, where they beat reigning world champions Germany and Olympic champions the Netherlands. They also defeated Pakistan and beat England in a shootout – the two teams they will face again in Pool D.
Former Pakistan captain and veteran goalkeeper Salman Akbar, who earned 230 international caps and represented Pakistan at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, offered an encouraging assessment of India’s World Cup prospects, saying that India have a strong chance of advancing to the next round.
“India shouldn’t struggle at all in reaching the top eight,” Akbar told Sports Now.
“If we look at their current form, there is a lot of confidence in the Indian team. They finished the Pro League on a winning note, and they’ll carry that confidence into the World Cup,” he said.
The Real Test Begins Beyond The Pool Stage
But Salman expects the challenge to become significantly tougher beyond the pool stage. The 2026 edition has introduced a new format without a conventional quarter-final stage, making the start particularly important.
“I think it will not be easy, especially in the second round. If India is going to the semi-final, being ranked eighth, it means two or three top teams will drop from the top four. It could be the Netherlands, Germany or Belgium. It’s not easy.”
“You can’t forget Argentina. You can’t forget England, Germany or Australia. Argentina is fifth. Spain, I think, is the real underdog of the World Cup. We should look at all these things.”
“That’s why I say that India should be in the top eight. I think it’s a big chance for them.”
For and his team, the immediate task will be to qualify for the next round, which won’t be easy with England and Wales also potential contenders to qualify. But after two successive Olympic bronze medals and a promising run in the Pro League, India enter the World Cup with a genuine opportunity to turn their recent success into a long-awaited World Cup glory.