The Masters Hockey World Cup 2026 has officially begun in Antwerp, Belgium, with a vibrant and colourful opening ceremony. More than 130 teams from across the globe took part in the spectacular event, marking the start of one of the biggest international tournaments for veteran hockey players.
The prestigious championship brings together former hockey stars and experienced players from around the world, competing across different age categories, including 55+, 60+, 65+, and 70+. The tournament promises exciting action as teams battle for glory and celebrate the spirit of hockey on the international stage. The Masters Hockey World Cup is held every four years in different countries and features categories for players aged 55+, 60+, 65+, and 70+.
Pakistan’s 60–65 age category masters team is also taking part in this global competition. The squad includes former national players such as Shahbaz Senior, Olympian Khalid Hameed, and Irfan Senior.
Pakistani-origin players from the UK and Australia are also part of the team. Pakistan’s Masters team will begin its World Cup campaign tomorrow with a match against the Netherlands, scheduled for 6:00 pm Pakistan time. The national team has appealed to the Pakistani community to attend the match and support the players.
It is worth mentioning here that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced the 20-member national squad and team management for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026, which will be played this month. The announcement of the squad was made this week.
The national team will be led by captain Abu Bakr Mahmood. The squad includes goalkeepers Waqar and Ali Raza, along with Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Sufyan Khan, Moin Shakeel, Abdul Waheed Ashraf Rana, Abdul Hanan Shahid, Zakaria Hayat, Arshad Liaquat, Adeel Latif, Ahmed Nadeem, Ghazanfar Ali, Imad Shakeel Butt, Muhammad Hammaduddin Anjum, Rehman Abdul, Afraz, Omar Mustafa, Abdul Manan, and Muhammad Imad.
The team management will be headed by manager Muhammad Owais Qarni, while Bob Johan Veldhof has been appointed as the head coach. Christopher John Bowen and Adnan Zakir will serve as assistant coaches, with Ashraf Sultan named as the video technician.
Read more: Pakistan head to England as test tour preparations begin