India and Pakistan meet in the men’s hockey semifinal at the Asian Games 2026 on October 1, with a place in the gold-medal match at stake.
India reached the last four unbeaten, winning all five of its pool matches. The defending champions scored heavily during the group stage, while Pakistan finished second in its pool after a narrow defeat to Malaysia.
India’s Strong Campaign
India began the tournament with big wins over Indonesia, Sri Lanka and South Korea before defeating hosts Japan 2-0 and Bangladesh 10-0. Dilpreet Singh has been among India’s leading scorers, while captain Harmanpreet Singh remains an important threat from penalty corners.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has been led by drag-flick specialist Sufiyan Khan, who scored 11 goals during the pool stage.
A Place in the Final at Stake
The semifinal will be played at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara, Japan, with the match scheduled for 1 pm IST. The winner of the Asian Games men’s hockey competition will also earn a direct qualification place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India and Pakistan last met at the Asian Games in 2023, when India recorded a 10-2 victory in the group stage. The latest semifinal adds another chapter to their long-running hockey rivalry.