The 2026 World Cup features four pools for the dual events: Pool A in the Netherlands with the Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, and Japan; Pool B in Belgium with Belgium, Germany, France, and Malaysia; Pool C in Belgium with Australia, Spain, Ireland, and South Africa; and Pool D in the Netherlands with England, India, Pakistan, and Wales.

Full match schedules for both the men’s and women’s World Cups are slated to be released on March 18.

India’s women recently lost 0-2 to England in the World Cup qualifiers in Hyderabad and will meet England again in the main tournament.

Background notes highlight India’s historic opening-phase meeting with Pakistan since 2010, along with past qualification outcomes for both teams (Pakistan missed 2014 and 2023; India reached the quarterfinals in 2018).

The article provides links and references to World Cup pages, official documents, and social media channels for further information.

Historically, the Netherlands women’s team won the last World Cup in 2022, and Germany men’s team won in 2023, underscoring the event’s prestige.

The draw ceremony featured notable figures and underscored expectations of high-quality hockey and early competition excitement.

India Women are presented as a rising force with a strong recent performance and a top-10 ranking, though this is ancillary to the men’s tournament.

Mascots for the World Cup, one for each gender, symbolize teamwork and global unity, with a fan-name campaign planned.

Mascots were unveiled as gender-specific representations with campaigns to name them to follow.

Mascots for the World Cup were unveiled—one per gender—symbolizing teamwork and energy, with fan naming campaigns planned.

The 2026 edition marks the 16th World Cup for both India and Pakistan, with India holding one title (1975) and Pakistan four (1971, 1978, 1982, 1994).