| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Mohith HS, Suraj Karkera |
| Defenders | Harmanpreet Singh (c), Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Yashdeep Siwach |
| Midfielders | Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad |
| Forwards | Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Abhishek |
Harmanpreet Singh named captain for 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup
Hockey India has officially announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026. The tournament is scheduled to take place across Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30, 2026. Ace drag-flicker and defender Harmanpreet Singh, who led the Indian side to an Olympic bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Games, has been named captain to lead the team in its pursuit of another world title.
Pool D matchups at Wagener Hockey Stadium
India has been drawn into Pool D for the tournament, where they will face England, Pakistan, and Wales. All of India’s group stage matches are scheduled to be held at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. The team’s campaign begins on August 15 against Wales, followed by a match against England on August 17. The highly anticipated fixture against arch-rivals Pakistan is set for August 19. Under the tournament structure, the top two teams from each of the four groups will progress to the next round.
Craig Fulton excludes four Pro League players from final roster
Chief Coach Craig Fulton has emphasized a blend of seasoned campaigners and exciting young talents in the final roster. The squad selection process involved difficult decisions, as Hockey India had to adhere to a strict 20-player limit. Consequently, four players who featured in the recent European leg of the FIH Pro League—defender Amandeep Lakra, midfielders Raj Kumar Pal and Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem, and forward Selvam Karthi—were omitted from the final selection.
This is a well-balanced squad — the right mix of tournament experience and in-form youth who've earned their spot through performance, not reputation. Reflecting
The team enters the World Cup following a challenging FIH Pro League campaign last month, where India finished eighth among nine teams, having won four matches, drawn five, and lost seven. Despite this recent form, the team is focused on implementing a specific tactical identity. Press, counter, perform isn't just our tactical identity – it's how this group trains and thinks together every single day,
Fulton explained. We are not getting ahead of ourselves — one game at a time, all in, is the mentality we're taking into every match.
India’s history in the competition adds weight to the 2026 campaign. The nation is looking to improve upon its ninth-place finish in the 2023 edition and end a long wait for a medal. India claimed its lone World Cup title in 1975 in Kuala Lumpur. Prior to that, the team secured a bronze medal in Barcelona in 1971 and a silver medal in Amsterdam in 1973. Addressing the significance of the upcoming tournament, Fulton noted: Fifty years since 1975 (World Cup win), this group has a chance to write its own chapter in Indian hockey history, and we are really excited about it.
Manpreet Singh joins midfield line-up
The squad features goalkeepers Mohith HS and Suraj Karkera. The defensive unit, anchored by captain Harmanpreet Singh, includes Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, and Yashdeep Siwach. Veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh, recognized as India’s most-capped player, joins a midfield group consisting of Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Hardik Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, and Vivek Sagar Prasad. The forward line tasked with spearheading the attack includes Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh, and Abhishek.
Sources: Olympics, The Times of India.
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