International hockey is returning to Punjab. The Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026 will be played in Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5, and defending champions India will open their campaign against Bangladesh on the very first evening, right after the opening ceremony in Jalandhar. The Asian Hockey Federation released the fixtures last week.
Six teams will take part: India, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China and Bangladesh. Bangladesh come in as a replacement for Pakistan, who will not be travelling to India for the event.
Venues and format
The league stage, from October 27 to November 2, will be held at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar. The stadium is named after Surjit Singh, a member of India's 1975 World Cup-winning team. The semi-finals and the medal matches move to the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali.
The format is simple. Every team plays the other five once in a single round-robin league. The top four teams on the table qualify for the semi-finals on November 4, and the bronze-medal match and the final will be played on November 5. October 28, October 31 and November 3 are rest days.
India's full schedule
All five of India's league matches begin at 7 pm IST, which makes them prime-time viewing for fans across the country.
| October 27 | India vs Bangladesh, Jalandhar (after opening ceremony) |
| October 29 | India vs China, Jalandhar |
| October 30 | India vs Japan, Jalandhar |
| November 1 | India vs Malaysia, Jalandhar |
| November 2 | India vs South Korea, Jalandhar |
| November 4 | Semi-finals, Mohali |
| November 5 | Bronze-medal match and final, Mohali |
India start as clear favourites
India arrive as the title holders, the reigning Asian Games champions and the top-ranked side in the field. They have won the Asian Champions Trophy five times: in 2011, 2016, 2018 (shared with Pakistan after the final was washed out), 2023 and 2024. A sixth title would extend their record as the most successful team in the tournament's history.
The schedule also looks kind at the start. Opening against Bangladesh gives India a chance to settle in front of a home crowd before tougher tests against Japan, Malaysia and South Korea later in the week. The final league match against South Korea on November 2 could well decide who finishes top of the table.
Chief coach Craig Fulton is preparing the squad ahead of the event. Fans will be watching to see how Fulton balances experienced names with younger players as the team builds towards bigger tournaments.
Why Pakistan are missing
Pakistan pulled out of the tournament after their request to play at a neutral venue was not accepted, according to reports. In September, Pakistan Hockey Federation president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani had said the team's participation in India would depend on clearance from his government. With Pakistan out, Bangladesh were brought in to complete the six-team field.
A big moment for Punjab hockey
Punjab has given Indian hockey some of its greatest names, from triple Olympic gold medallist Balbir Singh Senior to modern stars such as Manpreet Singh and drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh. Even so, the state has not hosted a major international hockey event in years, and the tournament is being seen as a chance to reconnect a hockey-mad region with the national team.
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said he was "delighted to welcome the teams from across Asia to Punjab" and expects high-quality hockey. Secretary general Bhola Nath Singh said the event would showcase the state's passion for the sport.
What it means for fans
For fans in north India, this is a rare chance to watch the national team live without travelling to Bhubaneswar, Rourkela or Chennai, which have hosted most of India's big events in recent years. The evening start times should also help television and streaming audiences, since the matches will not clash with office or school hours.
Fans planning to travel to Jalandhar or Mohali should keep an eye on Hockey India's official channels for ticketing and broadcast updates in the run-up to the opening day.
What happens next
With the fixtures fixed, the countdown is on to October 27, when India will look to start their title defence with a win in front of a packed Jalandhar crowd. With home advantage and form on their side, anything less than a place in the final on November 5 would be a disappointment.
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