Four-time World Cup winners Pakistan will compete in the men’s qualifying tournament in Egypt.
The qualifying rounds for the 2026 Hockey World Cup will be staged across Egypt, India and Chile and Pakistan’s national hockey team will compete in the men’s qualifying tournament in Egypt, scheduled to take place in Ismailia from March 1 to 7.
According to the International Hockey Federation (FIH), Chile will host both the men’s and women’s qualifiers, India will stage only the women’s events, while Egypt will host the men’s qualifiers.
Pakistan’s national hockey team will compete in the men’s qualifying tournament in Egypt alongside Pakistan teams from Egypt, England, Malaysia, Japan, Austria, China and the United States will participate in the event.
Pakistan have been placed in Group B, where they will face China, Malaysia and Austria. The Green Shirts will open their campaign against China on March 1, take on Malaysia on March 2, and conclude the group stage against Austria on March 4.
Under the qualification format, the top three teams from each men’s qualifying tournament will secure direct qualification for the 2026 Hockey World Cup. In addition, the fourth-placed team will also book a spot in the expanded 16-team World Cup.
Belgium and the Netherlands will jointly host the 2026 Hockey World Cup in August 2026. Both host nations have already qualified automatically for the tournament.
It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan is one of the most successful national field hockey teams in the world with a record four Hockey World Cup wins in 1971, 1978, 1982, and 1994.
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