The Asian Champions Trophy 2026 India schedule begins against Bangladesh on 27 October in Jalandhar. Hockey India’s preview published on 26 October gives the opener a 7:20 PM IST start, following the opening ceremony.
India enters as defending champion, seeking a sixth title. This is a preview of upcoming matches, not a results report.
India’s league fixtures
| Date | Opponent | Time, IST |
|---|---|---|
| 27 October | Bangladesh | 7:20 PM* |
| 29 October | China | 7 PM |
| 30 October | Japan | 7 PM |
| 1 November | Malaysia | 7 PM |
| 2 November | South Korea | 7 PM |
*Opening-match clarification: an earlier version of the official fixture listing shows 7 PM, while the newer 26 October preview specifies 7:20 PM. We use the newer announcement here. Recheck the organiser’s match-day information before travelling or arranging your viewing.
Venues and tournament format
League matches run at Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar. The semi-finals on 4 November and medal matches on 5 November move to Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium, Mohali.
The six teams play a single round robin. The top four reach the semi-finals. That means India’s five league fixtures determine qualification; a strong opener alone does not settle the tournament.
Team update before the opener
Harmanpreet Singh captains the Craig Fulton-coached side. Hockey India says Manpreet Singh is unavailable because of a calf injury, with Vivek Sagar Prasad replacing him.
What to watch during the league stage
For a useful view of India’s progress, follow more than the final score. Watch how the team creates chances, responds after losing possession and manages periods when opponents apply pressure. These are viewing pointers rather than predictions about a particular player or result.
Compare performances across matches instead of drawing a conclusion from one passage of play. A narrow win and a comfortable win can raise different questions, but neither tells the full story without the match context.
Plan around the venue change
If you intend to attend, distinguish Jalandhar’s league programme from Mohali’s knockout programme before making arrangements. Do not assume that every game takes place at the same ground simply because the tournament is in Punjab.
Keep the fixture date and start time together in your calendar. For anyone watching from outside India, convert from IST using the date of the match, especially where local daylight-saving rules may change.
Broadcast details still need confirmation
This guide has not verified a television channel or streaming platform. We have not added a subscription recommendation or an unofficial live-stream link. Check a current authorised broadcaster listing before paying for access.
Checked: 26 October 2026. All fixtures above are upcoming. Match-day revisions remain possible.
More coverage
Follow our Sports section for further updates. For other evening viewing choices, the 30 October OTT watchlist is a separate entertainment guide.
