(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Pakistan Hockey Team Given New Opportunity for 2026 World Cup Qualification
Pakistan’s hockey team has been granted a lifeline by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in their bid to qualify for the 2026 Hockey World Cup, which will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands.
This comes after Pakistan’s recent decision to boycott the Hockey Asia Cup in India, the primary qualification tournament for Asian teams.
A senior FIH official has revealed that Pakistan is expected to get a special play‑off chance later this year. They would face the team that finishes sixth in the ongoing Asia Cup in a three-match away series. The winner of this series will advance to next year’s World Cup qualifiers.
The potential opponents for Pakistan in this play-off include Japan, Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh, and Kazakhstan. Official confirmation is expected on September 7.
Winning the play-off would allow Pakistan to compete in the World Cup Qualifiers, scheduled for February–March 2026. Teams in the qualifiers include Canada, Chile, the United States, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Austria, England, France, and Poland. Additional spots will be filled by four more teams from the Asia Cup and one from the Hockey Africa Cup of Nations. Ultimately, seven teams from this stage will secure a place at the World Cup.
Once a dominant force in world hockey with four World Cup titles, Pakistan now sees this as a second chance to regain its position among the sport’s elite. While recent performances show signs of improvement, the path ahead remains challenging.
So far, seven teams have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup: hosts Belgium and the Netherlands, along with Australia, Spain, Argentina, New Zealand, and Germany. The remaining spots will be determined through continental championships and next year’s qualifiers.
For Pakistan, the path is clear: win the play-off, perform well in the qualifiers, and aim to return to the top tier of international hockey.
