ISLAMABAD: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced on Thursday that Pakistan will compete in the 2025-26 season of the FIH Hockey Pro League, one of the world’s top hockey tournaments.
This exciting opportunity came after Hockey New Zealand, who won the FIH Nations Cup earlier this year, decided to withdraw from the nine-team Pro League. Pakistan received a formal invitation to join the league, filling the spot left open.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) took a little extra time to confirm its participation as it awaited financial support from the government. After receiving Rs250 million on Wednesday, Pakistan confirmed its spot the very next day.
The Pro League will see Pakistan competing alongside fierce rivals India, as well as strong teams like Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain. Pakistan replaces Ireland, who were relegated after finishing last season.
FIH President Tayyab Ikram welcomed Pakistan’s return with great enthusiasm. “It’s fantastic to see Pakistan back in elite competition,” he said. “Their rich history and passion for hockey will bring new energy to the Pro League and attract more viewers around the world.”
Pakistan’s return is a major milestone for world hockey and shows how the sport is growing with new opportunities for teams to rise through the ranks.
It’s worth remembering that Pakistan was originally set to join the Pro League in 2019 but had to pull out of their first three matches due to unavoidable circumstances, leading to their suspension from the tournament at the time.
