Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026: India Begin Campaign Against Bangladesh on October 27

India will begin their title campaign at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 against Bangladesh on October 27, with the Asian Hockey Federation announcing the schedule for the continental tournament on Friday. 

The competition will run until November 5, with league-stage matches in Jalandhar before the action moves to Mohali for the semi-finals and medal matches.

The tournament brings international men’s hockey back to Punjab, a state deeply connected with the sport and responsible for producing generations of Indian hockey players. With six of Asia’s leading teams competing, the event will provide India with an opportunity to extend their impressive record in the competition following their successful Asian Games campaign in Japan.

The tournament will be staged across two prominent hockey venues in Punjab: the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar and the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. Jalandhar will host the entire league phase from October 27 to November 2. The competition will then move to Mohali, where the semi-finals will take place on November 4, followed by the bronze-medal and gold-medal matches on November 5.

The schedule includes three rest days  October 28, October 31 and November 3 providing teams with time to recover and prepare between key stages of the tournament.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for October 27, shortly before India face Bangladesh in their first match. The home side will therefore begin its campaign in front of local supporters, adding to the occasion as international hockey returns to the state. For Punjab, hosting the tournament carries significance beyond the matches themselves. Widely regarded as a nursery of Indian hockey, the state has played a major role in the country's sporting history. 

The competition offers an opportunity to bring elite international hockey closer to its passionate fan base while showcasing the region's longstanding relationship with the game.

The tournament will feature India, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China and Bangladesh. India enter as the defending champions, reigning Asian Games champions and the highest-ranked team among the participating nations. Fresh from defending their Asian Games gold medal in Japan, the hosts will aim to carry that momentum into another major continental competition.

The six teams will compete in a single round-robin league phase, with each side playing five matches. The top four teams in the standings will qualify for the semi-finals, making consistency across the opening week essential. With five league fixtures to navigate, India will need to manage their resources carefully while building towards the knockout stage. The format leaves limited room for sustained inconsistency, particularly against opponents with established international experience.

India’s complete league-stage schedule

All five of India’s league matches are scheduled to begin at 7 pm IST.

• October 27: India vs Bangladesh

• October 29: India vs China

• October 30: India vs Japan

• November 1: India vs Malaysia

• November 2: India vs South Korea

India’s opening encounter against Bangladesh will be followed by a meeting with China on October 29. Japan come next on October 30, before Malaysia on November 1 and South Korea on November 2 complete the league-stage schedule. The fixtures against Japan, Malaysia and South Korea will be particularly important in determining India's position ahead of the semi-finals. However, the opening match against Bangladesh will provide the first opportunity for the hosts to establish their rhythm and build confidence in front of the home crowd.

The league phase concludes on November 2, with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals in Mohali two days later. The tournament will conclude with the bronze-medal and gold-medal matches on November 5.

India aims to extend their record.

India are the most successful team in Asian Champions Trophy history, having won the title in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023 and 2024. The 2018 edition was shared with Pakistan, while the other four titles were outright victories. The hosts will now seek to add another championship to that collection. Their recent Asian Games success provides an encouraging backdrop, although the Champions Trophy presents a fresh competition against opponents equally motivated to challenge for the title.

Hockey India President Dr Dilip Tirkey welcomed the announcement of the schedule and the prospect of hosting the participating nations in Punjab. “The announcement of the match schedule adds to the excitement for the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026. We are delighted to welcome the teams from across Asia to Punjab and look forward to witnessing some high-quality hockey,” Tirkey said.

Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh also highlighted the importance of the event for the sport and its supporters. “With the schedule now announced, the countdown to the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 has truly begun. Hockey India is proud to host the participating nations and showcase the passion and hospitality of Punjab,” he said, adding that the organisers looked forward to a competitive tournament that brings fans closer to hockey.

With the schedule confirmed, the focus now shifts to preparations for the October 27 opening day. India will enter the tournament with the pressure and expectations that accompany their status as defending champions, while the other five teams will look to challenge their dominance.

For Punjab, the event is an opportunity to welcome Asia’s leading hockey nations and celebrate a sporting tradition that remains central to the state's identity. The immediate objective for India will be to secure a strong start against Bangladesh, navigate five league matches successfully and reach the semi-finals in Mohali. 

The ultimate prize will be another Asian Champions Trophy title and the chance to strengthen an already remarkable record in the competition.