Hosts India, to be led by ace drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh, have been drawn in Pool A along with the People’s Republic of China. Record five-time Asia Cup champions and current title holders the Republic of Korea are in Pool B.
Asia Cup 2025 hockey groups and teams
- Pool A: India, Japan, China, Kazakhstan
- Pool B: South Korea, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei
The Pakistan hockey team and Oman have withdrawn from the Asia Cup with Bangladesh and Kazakhstan named as their replacements, respectively.
All matches of the 2025 Asia Cup will be played at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium.
This year’s quadrennial continental showpiece – the 12th edition of the men’s Asia Cup – also carries added significance as a qualifying event for the 2026 Hockey World Cup, to be jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium.
The winner will get a direct spot in next year’s global showcase while the teams ranking second to sixth will earn a spot in the 2026 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers to be played in February-March next year.
The Asia Cup 2025 hockey tournament kicks off with Malaysia and Bangladesh facing each other in Pool B on August 29. The Indian men’s hockey team will face China in its opener later on the same day.