International field hockey returns to Pakistan as Lahore will host the FIH Nations Cup in February 2027. A hosting agreement between the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and International Hockey Federation (FIH) was signed at a ceremony in Islamabad on 13th November 2026. The event saw attendance from Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Adviser on Inter-Provincial Coordination Rana Sanaullah, FIH President Tayyab Ikram, members of parliament and former Olympians. This historic agreement comes after a long absence of elite international hockey in Pakistan.
Participating Teams and Pro League Pathway in the FIH Nations Cup
Lahore will host a 10-team tournament including the home team Pakistan, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Korea and Ireland. The tournament will act as a qualification route to playing in elite international competition:
Champions qualify for the 2027-28 FIH Pro League.
If the winning country declines their promotion, the runner-up will qualify.
Last time the tournament was played in June 2026 and won by France who beat South Africa 2-1 in the final to qualify for the 2026-27 season.
Reviving Lahore’s Legacy Through the FIH Nations Cup
Lahore hosting the FIH Nations Cup means a lot to Pakistani sports fans. Although Islamabad has hosted some international games in recent years, Lahore has not hosted any major international hockey events since the Champions Trophy in 2004. Playing in a 10 team tournament at home gives a huge boost to hockey in Pakistan, inspiring young players and is a huge achievement for the PHF who have been working hard to bring Pakistan back to being a leading destination for international field hockey.
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