Pakistan will play in India next month as Hockey India announced the schedule and venues for the 2026 Men’s Asian Champions Trophy, marking a rare India‑Pakistan clash in a multinational tournament.
The competition will run from October 27 to November 5, split between two Punjab cities. Jalandhar will host the opening ceremony and all league‑stage matches, while Mohali will stage the semi‑finals and final.
Six teams will participate: India, Pakistan, China, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia. The inclusion of Pakistan is significant given the continued restrictions on bilateral sporting engagements between the two nations.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed there would be no issues with Pakistan’s participation in a multinational event, though bilateral series remain off the table. “There is no problem in multi‑national tournaments. Maybe individual series cannot take place,” he said.
The tournament offers another high‑profile platform for an India‑Pakistan sporting contest, while also highlighting Punjab’s growing role as a host of major international hockey events.
