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The Hero Men's Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 will bring six of Asia's leading men's hockey teams to India from October 27 to November 5. The tournament will be hosted across Jalandhar and Mohali in Punjab, with defending champions India aiming to extend their impressive record in the competition.
The Asian Hockey Federation announced the revised fixture schedule on October 9, following Pakistan's withdrawal and Bangladesh's inclusion as its replacement. India will begin their campaign against Bangladesh on October 27 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar.
The 2026 edition of the Hero Men's Asian Champions Trophy will be staged at two prominent hockey venues in Punjab.
The Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar will host the opening ceremony and all league-stage matches. The tournament will then move to the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali for the semi-finals and medal matches.
The competition follows a single round-robin format, with each team playing five league matches. The four highest-ranked teams at the end of the league stage will advance to the semi-finals.
India enter the tournament as defending champions and reigning Asian Games gold medallists. They will have home support behind them as they attempt to add another title to their collection.
Six teams will compete for the 2026 title:
India
Bangladesh
China
Japan
South Korea
Malaysia
All five of India's league-stage matches are scheduled for 7:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Date Fixture Time (IST) Venue October 27, 2026 India vs Bangladesh 7:00 PM Jalandhar October 29, 2026 India vs China 7:00 PM Jalandhar October 30, 2026 Japan vs India 7:00 PM Jalandhar November 1, 2026 Malaysia vs India 7:00 PM Jalandhar November 2, 2026 India vs South Korea 7:00 PM Jalandhar
The dates and times above follow the schedule published by Hockey India. Supporters should check the official tournament schedule for any subsequent changes.
October 27 — Opening Day
The tournament begins in Jalandhar, with the opening ceremony scheduled before India's opening match against Bangladesh.
October 28 — Rest Day
No league matches are scheduled.
October 29 and 30 — League Action Continues
The participating teams resume their round-robin campaigns, with India facing China on October 29 and Japan on October 30.
October 31 — Rest Day
The tournament pauses for a scheduled rest day.
November 1 and 2 — Final League Fixtures
India face Malaysia on November 1 before completing their league campaign against South Korea on November 2.
November 3 — Rest Day
Teams receive a final scheduled break before the knockout stage.
November 4 — Semi-finals
The semi-finals will take place at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. The top four teams from the league standings will compete for places in the final.
November 5 — Medal Matches and Final
The tournament concludes in Mohali with the bronze-medal match followed by the gold-medal match to determine the 2026 champions.
India are the most successful team in Asian Champions Trophy history, with five titles: 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023 and 2024. India shared the 2018 title with Pakistan.
The team's recent Asian Games gold medal adds further momentum heading into the competition. Playing in Punjab also gives the team an opportunity to compete in front of home supporters in a state with a long-standing connection to Indian hockey.
India will need to negotiate five league matches before the knockout stage. A strong start against Bangladesh could help the team establish momentum, but the round-robin format means every fixture will contribute to the final standings.
Dates: October 27 to November 5, 2026.
League-stage venue: Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar.
Knockout venue: Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium, Mohali.
India match times: 7:00 PM IST for all five league fixtures.
Qualification: The top four teams progress to the semi-finals.
Revised lineup: Bangladesh replaces Pakistan.
Fans should use the latest Asian Hockey Federation and Hockey India announcements for the final fixture list, ticket information and any updates.
Asian Hockey Federation — Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026: Match Schedule Announced
https://asiahockey.org/news/hero-asian-champions-trophy-punjab-2026-match-schedule-announced/
Supports the tournament dates, venues and confirmed six-team lineup.
Hockey India — Match Schedule Announced for Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026
https://www.hockeyindia.org/news/match-schedule-announced-for-hero-asian-champions-trophy-punjab-2026
Supports India's fixtures, match times, rest days, tournament format and knockout dates.
NDTV Profit — Pakistan Replaced By Bangladesh In Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026; India To Open Campaign On Oct 27
https://www.ndtvprofit.com/sports/pakistan-replaced-by-bangladesh-in-hockey-asian-champions-trophy-punjab-2026-india-to-open-campaign-on-oct-27-12163144/amp/1
Provides independent reporting on Pakistan's withdrawal and Bangladesh's replacement.
Sportscape Magazine — India Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026 Full Schedule
https://www.sportscapemagazine.com/blog/india-hockey-asian-champions-trophy-2026-full-schedule
Original reference supplied for the article topic.
