The announcement surprised everyone and has hockey fans across India buzzing with excitement. Pakistan is returning to the FIH Pro League after years away, and that means one thing every Indian hockey fan has been waiting for – India vs Pakistan matches are back on the menu.
This isn’t just any comeback story. It’s the return of one of sports’ most intense rivalries to hockey’s biggest stage.
And trust us, it’s going to be worth the wait.
Pakistan Gets Their Second Chance
Here’s how it all happened. New Zealand won the FIH Nations Cup earlier this year, which should’ve earned them a spot in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 season. But they declined the invitation and decided to skip the elite competition.
That opened the door for Pakistan, who finished second in that Nations Cup tournament in Malaysia. The International Hockey Federation didn’t waste time – they offered Pakistan the vacant spot, and this time, Pakistan said yes.
“Great to see Pakistan back in elite competition – this is a truly impactful milestone for world hockey,” FIH President Tayyab Ikram announced. “Their return marks not only the comeback of a team with such a rich and storied history, but also an exciting boost to the visibility and reach of the FIH Pro League.”
The timing couldn’t be better for hockey fans who remember when India-Pakistan matches were the biggest events in the sport.
Why This Matters So Much
Pakistan isn’t just any hockey team making a return. We’re talking about three-time Olympic champions and four-time World Cup winners. These guys have serious history in the sport.
But here’s the thing – they’ve been struggling lately. The team currently sits at number 18 in world rankings, which shows just how far they’ve fallen from their glory days. The FIH Pro League gives them a chance to prove they still belong among the world’s best.
For India, this creates a perfect opportunity. The Indian team has been on the rise in recent years, and facing Pakistan twice in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 season will be a real test of how much they’ve improved.
The matches will definitely bring back memories of the golden era when both countries dominated world hockey.
Where Will These Epic Matches Happen?
Nobody knows yet where India will face Pakistan in the FIH Pro League, and that’s part of what makes this so interesting. The venues haven’t been decided, which means these matches could happen anywhere.
In the current season, India played their home games in Bhubaneswar and traveled to Amsterdam and Antwerp for away fixtures. So fans are wondering – will the India-Pakistan matches happen in India, Pakistan, or maybe at a neutral venue?
There’s some tension here too. Pakistan recently skipped the Asia Cup hockey tournament in India because of security concerns. They got replaced by Bangladesh. But the FIH Pro League is different – it’s a bigger competition with more at stake.
The venue decision will probably depend on a lot of political and security factors that go way beyond just sports.
Pakistan’s Rocky Road to the FIH Pro League
This isn’t Pakistan’s first try at joining the FIH Pro League. They were actually supposed to be part of the very first season back in 2019, but things went badly. They pulled out after just three games because of visa issues and other logistical problems.
It was embarrassing for a team with such a proud hockey history. Since then, Pakistan hockey has faced even more problems – funding crises, missed tournaments, and that drop in world rankings we mentioned.
But early 2024 brought some good news. The Pakistan Hockey Federation secured new sponsorship deals that helped them participate in international competitions again. The FIH Pro League opportunity was exactly what they needed to get back on track.
There was one more hurdle though. Pakistan had to put down a deposit of around $2 million to join the FIH Pro League, and they almost missed the deadline because of money problems. The FIH had to extend their deadline, but Pakistan eventually came through with the cash.
What the FIH Pro League Really Means
For people who don’t follow hockey closely, the FIH Pro League is basically like the Champions League of hockey. It features the nine best teams in the world, and they all play each other in a league format over several months.
Each team plays 16 matches total. The team with the most points at the end wins the whole thing. The bottom team gets relegated to a lower competition, while the winner of that lower competition gets promoted up.
The FIH Pro League launched in 2019 and has quickly become the premier hockey competition outside of the Olympics and World Cup. For the 2025-26 season, Pakistan will join Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, India, Netherlands, and Spain.
There’s an extra twist this time – the FIH Pro League 2025-26 season will also work as a qualifier for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. So there’s more than just pride on the line when India faces Pakistan.
India’s Current Position in World Hockey
India has been having a pretty good run in international hockey lately. They’ve managed to stay competitive in the FIH Pro League and avoided relegation, though they did finish just above last-place Ireland in the previous season.
The team has been building momentum and gaining confidence, which makes the timing perfect for Pakistan’s return. India gets to test themselves against a traditional rival while Pakistan is still getting back on their feet.
Indian hockey fans have been waiting for these matchups for years. The rivalry between these two countries in hockey goes back to 1956, and some of the most memorable matches in the sport’s history have been between India and Pakistan.
The political tensions between the two countries have kept them apart in many sports, but the FIH Pro League format means they have to play each other twice no matter what.
The Financial Reality Behind the Competition
Let’s be honest about something – the FIH Pro League isn’t cheap to participate in. That $2 million deposit Pakistan had to pay shows just how expensive elite international hockey has become.
For Pakistan, this investment represents a huge commitment to getting their hockey program back on track. They’re betting that competing in the FIH Pro League will help them attract sponsors, develop players, and eventually climb back up the world rankings.
The financial pressure also means Pakistan can’t afford to just show up and go through the motions. They need to be competitive to justify the expense and prove they belong at this level.
What Fans Can Expect
When India meets Pakistan in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 season, expect fireworks. These matches always bring out the best and worst in both teams, and the atmosphere is unlike anything else in hockey.
The games will likely draw huge TV audiences across both countries and the broader South Asian region. Hockey might not be as popular as cricket, but India-Pakistan matches in any sport still capture the imagination of millions of fans.
Both teams will be under enormous pressure to perform. For India, it’s a chance to show they’ve truly arrived as a world hockey power. For Pakistan, it’s about proving they can still compete with the best despite years of decline.
The matches will also be crucial for both teams’ hopes of qualifying for the 2028 Olympics through the FIH Pro League system.
The Broader Impact on Hockey
Pakistan’s return to the FIH Pro League isn’t just good news for India-Pakistan rivalry fans. It’s good for world hockey overall.
The sport has been trying to grow its global audience, and having all the traditional powerhouse nations competing in the same league helps with that. Pakistan’s rich history in hockey – those three Olympic golds and four World Cup wins – adds credibility and storylines that casual fans can connect with.
The FIH Pro League has also been working to increase prize money and media coverage, and having marquee matchups like India vs Pakistan twice per season definitely helps with those goals.
From a competitive standpoint, the FIH Pro League 2025-26 season now has more depth and unpredictability. Pakistan might be ranked 18th in the world right now, but they’re still capable of beating anyone on their day.
The Long Wait Is Almost Over
For hockey fans who remember the great India-Pakistan matches of the past, this news feels like a dream come true. Those epic encounters that used to define hockey in the subcontinent are coming back to the sport’s biggest regular competition.
The FIH Pro League 2025-26 season can’t start soon enough. Two matches between these traditional rivals, competing for Olympic qualification and league supremacy – it doesn’t get much better than that for hockey fans.
Whether the matches happen in India, Pakistan, or at neutral venues, one thing is certain – millions of people will be watching when these two teams face off again in the FIH Pro League.
