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FIH Hockey World Cup 2026: Indian team announced under the leadership of Harmanpreet Singh

By Samira Vishwas

New Delhi, 21 July. Hockey India on Tuesday announced the Indian hockey team for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, proposed to be held from August 15 to 30 next month. The 20-member team led by Harmanpreet Singh will present the Indian challenge in the global tournament jointly hosted by Belgium and Netherlands.

India’s match schedule in the group stage

India has been placed in Pool D along with England, Pakistan and Wales. Harmanpreet & Co. will play all their group stage matches at the Wagner Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands. The Indian team will start its campaign against Wales on 15th August and then face England on 17th August. The much-awaited encounter between arch-rivals – India and Pakistan will take place on August 19. The top two teams from the four groups will advance to the next round.

Indian team

  • Goalkeeper: Mohit HS, Suraj Karkera.
  • Defender: Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Yashdeep Siwach.
  • Midfielder: Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Neelkant Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad.
  • Forward : Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjit Singh, Mandeep Singh, Abhishek.

Great mix of experienced players and young talent in the team

If seen, the Indian team selected for the Hockey World Cup has a great mix of experienced players and young talent. Experienced midfielder Manpreet Singh, who has played the most matches for India in the current team, will provide valuable experience to the team.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh himself is a world class drag-flick expert.

The team’s inspirational captain Harmanpreet Singh is himself a world-class drag-flick specialist. Harmanpreet has played an important role in ending the country’s 41-year Olympic medal drought by leading the team to consecutive bronze medals in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. Harmanpreet, who was named FIH Player of the Year three times (2021, 2022 and 2024), is considered one of the most influential hockey players in the world.

Harmanpreet said – ‘We not only want to participate but also want to bring the trophy home’

Harmanpreet said, ‘Winning the World Cup and Olympic gold medal is our biggest dream and we are completely focused on this World Cup to be held in Belgium and Netherlands. As a team, we not only want to participate but also want to bring home the trophy. I believe we need to trust our process, execute our tactics correctly and give our 100% on the pitch. With the hard work we are doing, we have a great opportunity to bring glory to the country.

‘India has the potential to challenge the best teams in the world’

Meanwhile, head coach Craig Fulton has expressed confidence in the team’s balance and his team’s ability to challenge the best teams in the world. Fulton said, ‘We have selected a balanced team. It has the right mix of players with tournament experience and young players in good form, who have made their place on the basis of their performance and not because of their fame.

“Press, counter and perform is not just our strategic identity, it is the way this group trains and thinks together every day,” Fulton said. We are not thinking too far ahead. Our philosophy in every match is to focus on one game at a time and give it our all.

India’s only title success was in 1975

In fact, the upcoming edition of the Hockey World Cup will be another opportunity for India to win its second title. Before this, India had won the title only once in 1975. Pakistan is the most successful team in the history of Men’s Hockey World Cup with four titles.

Fulton excited about his team’s chances of winning the title

However, Fulton is upbeat about his team’s chances of winning another world title, under whose coaching India defeated defending world champions Germany and defending Olympic champions Netherlands in the FIH Pro League last month. He said, ‘Fifty years after our World Cup win in 1975, this group has an opportunity to write a new chapter in the history of Indian hockey and we are really excited about it.’

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