India will begin their FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign on August 15, carrying the weight of a glorious past while hoping to create a new chapter in the country’s hockey history.

Fifty-one years after their only World Cup triumph in 1975, India’s memories of the title-winning campaign led by captain Ajit Pal Singh remain deeply rooted in the nation’s sporting consciousness. However, captain Harmanpreet Singh and his team will need to turn that legacy into motivation when the tournament begins in Belgium and the Netherlands.

There is a notable parallel between the two captains. Ajit Pal Singh led India to the 1975 title in his second World Cup as captain after first leading the side in 1971. Harmanpreet, likewise, is captaining India at his second World Cup after leading the team in 2023. He is only the second Indian after Ajit Pal Singh to captain the country at two World Cups.

India head into the tournament with encouraging results from the final leg of the FIH Pro League, where they defeated reigning world champions Germany and Olympic champions the Netherlands. They also beat Pakistan twice and overcame England in a shootout, results that could prove valuable with both teams in their World Cup pool.

India are placed in Pool D alongside England, Pakistan and Wales. They face Wales on August 15, England on August 17 and Pakistan on August 19.

The 2026 tournament also introduces a new format without a conventional quarterfinal stage. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the second phase, where the eight qualifiers will be divided into Pools E and F. The top two teams from each of those pools will reach the semi-finals. Results and points from matches against fellow qualifiers from the first phase will also be carried forward, making every pool game crucial.

Experience will be a major asset for India. Mandeep Singh and Manpreet Singh will make their fourth World Cup appearances, while Manpreet, with 417 international caps, will be the most-capped player at the tournament. Harmanpreet, Hardik Singh, Amit Rohidas, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Sumit and Nilakanta Sharma add further experience.

At the same time, India have eight World Cup debutants. Chief coach Craig Fulton believes the combination of experience and youth is one of the team’s strengths.

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“Our strength is our diversity,” Fulton said, highlighting the blend of seasoned campaigners and players who have emerged through the junior ranks.

Defender Yashdeep Siwach will make his World Cup debut in the Netherlands, where his mother Pritam Siwach also represented India at the World Cup. Goalkeepers Suraj Karkera and Mohith HS are also set for their first World Cup appearances.

India’s squad thus represents a blend of generations, with established stars providing stability and emerging players such as Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjuna Lalage, Yashdeep and Shilanand Lakra looking to make their mark.

As India begin their campaign on Independence Day, memories of 1975 will inevitably return. But for Harmanpreet and his teammates, the objective is not to recreate the past, but to build their own legacy. “We want to write our own piece of Indian history. That’s the big goal,” Fulton said.