FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Schedule Today (August 20): Match Timings in IST, Fixtures and Venues
Stay updated with the full FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 schedule for August 20, 2026, featuring a day of intense group stage action across both men's and women's tournaments in Belgium and the Netherlands.
As the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 moves into its final preliminary round day, Thursday, August 20, promises a flurry of high-stakes matches across Belgium and the Netherlands. Both the men's and women's tournaments feature pivotal encounters that could determine crucial qualification spots for the next stages. Indian fans will have their eyes glued to the women's team as they face a formidable English side. Where to Watch FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Live Streaming Online and TV Telecast Channel in India
India in Action
India's women's team, currently leading Pool D with 4 points, will go head-to-head against England, who sit just behind them in third with 3 points, at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen. This encounter, kicking off at 3:00 PM CEST (6:30 PM IST), is crucial for India to solidify their position at the top of the pool and advance to the Second Round with momentum. England, too, will be desperate for a victory to improve their standing and secure their progression in the tournament.
Men's Tournament Thrillers
The men's competition on August 20 features four exciting clashes, with teams vying for vital points to secure their progression or improve their classification round seeding. Australia, already qualified from Pool C, will aim to maintain their perfect record against South Africa, who are yet to register a point. Similarly, the Netherlands, topping Pool A, will look for another dominant performance against Japan. Meanwhile, direct battles for second-round aspirations will unfold between New Zealand and Argentina in Pool A, and Ireland and Spain in Pool C.
Here’s a look at the men's fixtures for the day:
| Match (Men's Tournament) | Pool/Stage | CEST Time | IST Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia v South Africa | Pool C | 11:00 AM | 02:30 PM | Belfius Hockey Arena, Wavre |
| New Zealand v Argentina | Pool A | 12:30 PM | 04:00 PM | Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen |
| Ireland v Spain | Pool C | 05:00 PM | 08:30 PM | Belfius Hockey Arena, Wavre |
| Netherlands v Japan | Pool A | 06:00 PM | 09:30 PM | Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen |
Women's Tournament Highlights
Beyond India's crucial match, the women's tournament also presents three more intriguing contests. China, currently second in Pool D with 4 points, will aim to secure their qualification against South Africa, who are yet to open their account. Later in the evening, co-hosts Belgium, sitting atop Pool C with 4 points, will face Ireland, who are in third with 3 points, in a match that could determine the top spot in their group.
Here are the other women's matches scheduled for today:
| Match (Women's Tournament) | Pool/Stage | CEST Time | IST Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China v South Africa | Pool D | 09:30 AM | 01:00 PM | Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen |
| New Zealand v Spain | Pool C | 02:00 PM | 05:30 PM | Belfius Hockey Arena, Wavre |
| Belgium v Ireland | Pool C | 08:30 PM | 12:00 AM (early hours of August 21) | Belfius Hockey Arena, Wavre |
Where to Watch FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Live
Fans globally can catch all the action from the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 through various broadcast and streaming platforms. Ensure you check local listings for precise timings and coverage.
| Region | TV Channel(s) | Streaming Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports Network (Star Sports Select 2 SD+HD, Star Sports Khel, DD Sports) | JioHotstar |
| United Kingdom | Channel 4 Sport YouTube (all England, Scotland, and Wales matches), S4C (Wales matches, live in Welsh), BBC Alba (Scotland matches, live in Scottish Gaelic) | Watch.Hockey (all matches), BBC iPlayer (S4C, BBC Alba) |
| USA | CBS Sports Network (US Women's matches) | Watch.Hockey (all matches, paid World Cup Pass), YouTube TV, Hulu+Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV (for CBS Sports Network access) |
| Australia | 7plus (all Kookaburras and Hockeyroos matches, live and free) | 7plus |
| Belgium | RTL Club, Sporza | RTL Play, Sporza (all games free-to-air) |
| Netherlands | NOS (all Netherlands matches, bronze matches, and finals free-to-air) | NOS |
| Worldwide | - | Watch.Hockey (paid World Cup Pass; geo-blocked in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) |
Today's lineup promises thrilling hockey as teams battle it out for crucial points, setting the stage for an exciting knockout phase in the coming days.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2026 11:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
