Pakistan is back on hockey’s biggest stage, and this time, they have everything to prove. After missing the 2023 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup, Pakistan are finally returning to the global showpiece with a 20-member squad led by new captain Abu Bakar Mahmood.
But this is no ordinary comeback. The four-time world champions enter the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 carrying the weight of their glorious past, the frustration of recent struggles and the hopes of a nation desperate to see its hockey team rise again. The tournament gets underway on August 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium, with Pakistan facing a daunting challenge from the very beginning.
Pakistan’s 20-Man Squad for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026
The 20-man squad includes
Goalkeepers: Waqar, Ali Raza
Players: Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Sufyan Khan, Moeen Shakeel, Abdul Waheed Ashraf Rana, Abdul Hanan Shahid, Zakaria Hayat, Arshad Liaqat, Adeel Latif, Ahmad Nadeem, Ghazanfar Ali, Imad Shakeel Butt, Muhammad Hamaduddin Anjum, Rehman Abdul, Afraz, Umar Mustafa, Abu Bakar Mahmood, Abdul Matan and Muhammad Imad.
The squad will be hoping to produce the kind of performances that can finally put Pakistan hockey back on the international map.
New Captain, New Era
One of the biggest changes heading into the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 for Pakistan is the change of the captaincy. Abu Bakar Mahmood will lead Pakistan in the tournament, taking over the leadership role from experienced campaigner Ammad Shakeel Butt.
Butt remains part of the squad, giving the team an important source of experience in what is otherwise a relatively youthful group. For Abu Bakar, meanwhile, this is the biggest challenge of his career. He won’t just be leading Pakistan into a World Cup. He’ll be leading a team trying to rebuild its identity.
Pakistan to Face India, England and Wales at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026
Pakistan have been handed a brutal group. The Green Shirts are in Pool D alongside India, England and Wales, three opponents who will leave absolutely no room for complacency. Pakistan open their campaign against England on August 15 before facing Wales on August 17.
Pakistan vs India
The arch-rivals meet on August 19, with potentially huge implications for the group standings. But Pakistan cannot afford to focus only on India. A strong start against England and a positive result against Wales could put the Green Shirts in a position to attack the India game with confidence, and one bad result, however, could leave Pakistan fighting for survival.
Read more: The Ultimate Hockey Rivalry Returns: PAK vs IND at Sultan of Johor Cup 2025!
The Big Problem: Recent Form
There is one uncomfortable reality Pakistan cannot escape. Their recent international form has been poor. The Green Shirts endured a nightmare FIH Pro League campaign, losing all 16 matches and conceding 79 goals.
Come the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, Pakistan’s biggest challenge may not be scoring goals; it could be keeping them out. Against the world’s top teams, defensive mistakes are punished instantly. If Pakistan are to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages, their defensive structure and goalkeeping will have to improve dramatically.
Read more: Pakistan’s Men’s Hockey at Olympics: The Golden Period and the Ongoing Olympic Drought
Watch Out for Pakistan’s Young Guns
There is, however, plenty of reason for optimism. Pakistan’s squad contains several exciting young players who could make their names on the biggest stage. Assistant coach Christopher Bowen has even hinted that two players in the squad could surprise opponents and fans alike.
That could prove to be one of the most fascinating storylines of Pakistan’s campaign. The Green Shirts don’t need every player to become a superstar. They need a few players to produce something special at the right time. That’s how tournament stories are born.
Can Pakistan Bring Back the Glory Days?
Once upon a time, Pakistan were the kings of world hockey. They won everything; they won the World Cup four times, the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup 3 times respectively and in the process produced some of the greatest players the sport has ever seen, but those days feel increasingly distant.
The 2026 World Cup isn’t about pretending Pakistan are already back at the top. It’s about taking the first step. Pakistan return to the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 not as favourites, but as fighters with something to prove. And perhaps that’s exactly how a comeback should begin.
