Captain Harmanpreet Singh has one goal in mind at the FIH Hockey World Cup: 'We Want to End the 51-Year Wait'
(Courtesy : Hockey India)
Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh eyes history at FIH Hockey World Cup
It’s an honour to lead the national side at a World Cup, and Harmanpreet Singh is set for a rare distinction of doing that twice when the 2026 edition of the FIH Hockey World Cup, co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, begins on August 15.
Interestingly, India’s only World Cup-winning captain, Ajit Pal Singh, also captained the team twice in the tournament. Under his leadership, the Indian Hockey team won a bronze medal in 1971 before clinching the trophy in 1975, which remains India’s only World Cup triumph. And Harmanpreet wants to emulate that feat to end India’s 51-year wait.
Having led India to its second consecutive Olympic bronze at Paris 2024, India’s ace defender and drag-flicker Harmanpreet believes the 20-member squad has all its bases covered to challenge its opponents at the coming World Cup.
Drawn in Pool D, India will face England, Pakistan and Wales in the first phase of the tournament, beginning their campaign against Wales on August 15.
Talking about the team’s preparations and expectations, Harmanpreet sat down to share his thoughts in this interview.
Related: Harmanpreet Singh to lead 20-member India squad for FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2026
Q. How would you assess the team’s journey leading into the World Cup?
Our performance in the Pro League, especially in the concluding leg (Rotterdam and London), showed how much we’ve grown as a team. Our training and matches are going really well, and we’re excited to build on that heading into the tournament.
Q. The squad built valuable momentum in the Pro League leg you mentioned. How important was that as part of World Cup preparations?
Consistency is very important for us. We have to perform well and improve match by match, stay focused throughout, and avoid mistakes that can prove costly in a tournament like the World Cup. We have to stick to our plans and play as a team.
Q. What is the biggest area of improvement according to you, which will also be important in the World Cup?
The important thing is to be clinical in the D (striking circle), whether attacking or defending. If we’re defending, we have to do it well as a team. Our structure and understanding of players with and without the ball is improving, and we are focused on ensuring it continues that way. Besides that, our focus is on making the most of our opportunities, whether that’s a circle entry, a shot on target, a penalty corner or an attacking set-piece.
Q. The World Cup squad has a blend of experienced players and exciting young talent. How has that strengthened the squad?
The balance has been good. We have confidence in the team after how we played against some top sides recently. We were competitive, and the youngsters know the value of that. The experienced players are also guiding the youngsters to stay focused on our objectives.
Harmanpreet Singh continues to discuss mindset, and much more before the FIH Hockey World Cup
Q. How do you work on your own mindset as a captain, especially for a tournament as big as the World Cup?
It’s been almost 11-12 years since my debut, but my mindset has always been the same. Winning a medal in a major tournament matters more to me than the appearances I have made. Of course, earning more than 250 caps is also a significant achievement, and I’m very happy that I have come this far. I want to thank my team; they have always supported me a lot, and I want to continue delivering on the expectations and responsibilities they have trusted me with. That motivates me a lot.
Q. You were part of the team that won the Junior World Cup in 2016. How do you share your learnings from that experience with the youngsters that look up to you in this team?
I always encourage the team to play with a free mind and enjoy the opportunity, without taking too much stress. When you think too much, that’s when mistakes happen. At the same time, we should always be mindful of our responsibilities. The message in the camp has been clear: don’t worry about making mistakes, but if you do, reacting quickly matters more. We have to cover for each other and make that effort as a team.
The mindset you want to take to the World Cup needs to be brought to every practice session while you prepare. Whatever you do and plan in practice, you apply that in matches, and that’s why practice is so important. I have full confidence in the team to carry that through.
Q. India and Pakistan are in the same group. India haven’t lost to Pakistan in the last 10 years, but it remains one of the most sought-after matches of the pool stage—your thoughts.
Everyone is excited about that match, and there’s an expectation that we will win. But we have to control our emotions and play smartly. We’re excited to face every team in our pool, whether it is Wales, England or Pakistan. Right from the first whistle, we have to keep good pressure on our opponents and finish the chances that come our way.
Q. As captain, what message do you have for the fans as the countdown to the World Cup enters its final stretch?
We won an Olympic bronze medal after 41 years (in Tokyo, 2021), and that gave us hope. It’s been over fifty years since we’ve won the World Cup, and I think it’s time for us to end this long wait and create history. Keep supporting us, keep believing in us, and we will make sure we do our best every time we take the field.
How many times has the Indian team played in the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup?
Since 1971, Indian men have played the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 15 times. This year marks their 16th appearance.
How many wins to Indian men’s team has at the FIH Hockey World Cup?
India has one win in the Hockey World Cup. t was back in 1975, and the Indian team had defeated Pakistan 2-1 in the final held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
What is the full squad of the Indian men’s team for the Hockey World Cup?
Goalkeepers: Mohith HS, Suraj KarkeraDefenders: Jarmanpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh (c), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Yashdeep SiwachMidfielders: Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar PrasadForwards: Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Abhishek.
What are the dates of the Hockey World Cup?
The World Cup will take place from August 15 to August 30 in Belgium and the Netherlands.
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Riya Singhal is a sports journalist with experience across multiple sports. She has led golf coverage for over three years, reporting live from some of Asia's biggest courses and interviewing emerging talents. Beyond golf, she has covered Formula 1, MLB, WWE, NBA, and NFL, bringing versatility to her reporting. Alongside writing, Riya has played an important role in mentoring young journalists and maintaining editorial quality, combining her background in education with strong leadership and people-management skills.