What happened
Pakistan’s national hockey team departed for the Netherlands on Sunday, 9 August 2026, to compete in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup, returning to the global showpiece after missing the 2023 edition in India.
The four-time world champions face a demanding Pool D campaign alongside traditional rivals India, England and Wales, with their first-round matches scheduled in Amstelveen. Pakistan will play England on 15 August, Wales on 17 August and India on 19 August, with the top two teams from the pool advancing to the second stage.
The build-up
Pakistan chief selector and former Olympian Samiullah remained cautious about the team’s prospects but said a spirited performance could help the side produce a respectable campaign.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation said it had transferred 20 million rupees to players and coaching staff before the team’s departure. PHF president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani said the advance payment was intended to keep the squad free of financial concerns so it could concentrate fully on the tournament.
“Player and coaching staff welfare is our first priority. All necessary financial and administrative matters have been settled before the team’s departure so that the players can represent the country on the world stage without any distractions,” Wani said.
Why it matters
The tournament marks a return to the highest level for a side that last featured at the World Cup in 2018, when it was eliminated in the group stage. Pakistan’s most recent World Cup title came in 1994, and the team has struggled to recapture the dominance that once made it the most successful side in the competition’s history.
Pakistan qualified for the 2026 World Cup through the qualifying tournament in Egypt. The World Cup is being staged in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of published reporting, not independent reporting. Details and the quoted remarks are as carried by the cited source, which was reviewed on 9 August 2026.
- The Express Tribune — "Pakistan depart for Hockey World Cup"9 August 2026 · The departure, the Pool D fixtures, the PHF payment and the comments by Samiullah and Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani.
