KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Pakistan’s men’s hockey team has been placed in Pool B of the 20th Asian Games, following the official draw and match schedule announced by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) on Thursday.
The continental showpiece is scheduled to take place in Japan from September 19 to October 4.
The Asian Games Men’s Hockey Pools have been confirmed, setting the stage for an exciting tournament featuring Asia’s top hockey nations. pic.twitter.com/EoAm22kql8
— Asian Hockey Federation (@asia_hockey) August 6, 2026
The Green Shirts find themselves in a competitive 12-team tournament, with Pool B featuring Malaysia, China, Oman, Uzbekistan, and Thailand. Meanwhile, Pool A comprises India, Japan, Korea, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.
Pakistan’s Asian Games campaign
Pakistan will launch their Asian Games campaign against Thailand on September 20, followed by a clash with Uzbekistan the next day. Their third group-stage encounter is scheduled against China on September 24, before rounding off the preliminary phase with tough fixtures against Malaysia and Oman on September 26 and 28, respectively.
The top two sides from each pool will advance to the semi-finals, both scheduled for October 1. The winners will then contest the Gold medal match on October 3, while the remaining teams will feature in classification matches to determine final standings.
🏑 The Indian men’s hockey team has been slotted into Pool A alongside Japan and South Korea in the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Defending champion India will be kept apart from archrival Pakistan, which will take its place in Pool B in the 12-team tournament.
Read… pic.twitter.com/NpvSMOBLYR
— Sportstar (@sportstarweb) August 6, 2026
World Cup preparations
Pakistan’s Asian Games campaign comes on the heels of their historic appearance at the FIH Hockey World Cup, scheduled to be co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30. This marks Pakistan’s return to the global stage after a drought-ending qualification.
The Green Shirts will kick off their World Cup campaign against England on August 15, followed by a clash with Wales on August 17. Their final group-stage match will see them collide with traditional rivals India on August 19, setting up a potentially crucial encounter.
Read Also: Pakistan Unveils 20-Member Hockey Squad for World Cup 2026 Under New Leadership
Tournament format
The Asian Games hockey competition will follow a standard format where teams compete against all group opponents in the league stage. The top two from each pool progress to the semi-finals, with the winners vying for gold and the losers competing for bronze.
Read Also: Abu Bakar Handed Captaincy as Pakistan Hockey Looks to Rebuild After Pro League Nightmare
Pakistan’s performance in both tournaments will be closely watched as the team looks to regain its former glory on the international stage.
