Chandigarh, September 15, 2026: Punjab is set to enter a new chapter in its rich hockey history as it prepares to host the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026 for the first time. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has unveiled the tournament logo and announced that the prestigious continental championship will be held across Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5.
Jalandhar to Host League Matches
According to the tournament schedule, Jalandhar’s Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium will host the opening ceremony and all league-stage matches from October 27 to November 2.
The tournament will then move to Mohali, where the semi-finals will be played on November 4, followed by the grand final on November 5 at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium.
India-Pakistan Clash on November 1
One of the biggest attractions of the tournament will be the much-awaited India-Pakistan hockey clash, scheduled to take place in Jalandhar on November 1, which is Punjab Day.
The six participating teams are:
🇮🇳 India🇵🇰 Pakistan🇯🇵 Japan🇰🇷 South Korea🇲🇾 Malaysia🇨🇳 China
Oman and Bangladesh have been named as reserve teams.
Punjab Government Allocates ₹25.40 Crore
CM Bhagwant Mann said the Punjab Government has committed ₹25.40 crore for organising the tournament and upgrading arrangements and infrastructure.
The government has also announced free entry for spectators, with the aim of encouraging youngsters and hockey enthusiasts to attend the matches and reconnect with the sport.
Mann Highlights Punjab's Hockey Legacy
Mann described the tournament as more than just an international sporting event, calling it an emotional homecoming of hockey to the land that has produced generations of Indian hockey stars.
He highlighted Punjab’s historic contribution to Indian hockey, pointing to places such as Sansarpur, Khusropur and Mithapur, which have produced Olympians, national champions and Indian captains.
Hockey India also welcomed the tournament, saying that hosting the championship in Mohali and Jalandhar would showcase Punjab’s deep hockey culture and provide a major platform for the sport in the state.
Why This Tournament Matters for Punjab
The Asian Champions Trophy is expected to bring international attention to Punjab’s sporting infrastructure and reinforce its position as one of India's key hockey centres.
With Jalandhar hosting the league stage and Mohali hosting the knockout rounds, fans across the state will get an opportunity to watch some of Asia’s leading hockey teams on home soil.
For Punjab, the tournament also represents an opportunity to inspire a new generation of youngsters to choose sports and revive the state's historic connection with hockey.
