Pakistan to Host FIH Nations Cup in Lahore in 2027
Pakistan will host the FIH Men’s Nations Cup in Lahore in February 2027, bringing a major international hockey tournament back to the country after a long gap.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) signed the hosting agreement at a ceremony in Islamabad on Friday, November 13. The tournament will run from February 19 to 28, 2027.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Adviser on Inter-Provincial Coordination Rana Sanaullah, FIH President Tayyab Ikram, members of parliament and former Olympians attended the ceremony.
Ten teams, one Pro League place
The tournament will feature 10 teams for the first time, after the FIH expanded the event from eight teams. Alongside hosts Pakistan, the field includes New Zealand, Malaysia, South Korea, Ireland, Egypt, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and the United States.
The Nations Cup gives teams outside the FIH Pro League a route into the sport’s top competition. The winner will earn a place in the 2027-28 Pro League season, while the runner-up could also qualify if the winner declines the invitation.
France won the most recent edition, beating South Africa 2-1 in the final. Pakistan finished as runners-up in the 2024-25 edition, losing 6-2 to New Zealand in the final in Kuala Lumpur, and then gained top-flight experience during a stint in the FIH Pro League in 2025-26.
FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “Pakistan hosting the 2026-27 FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup marks a deeply significant moment for global hockey.”
Nations Cup in Lahore: a return after two decades
Lahore last hosted a major international hockey tournament in 2004, when it staged the Champions Trophy. The National Hockey Stadium in Lahore is the world’s largest hockey stadium, but it has not held an international match for many years.
Recent international hockey involving visiting teams has largely been played in Islamabad. The Nations Cup will change that, and it will give fans in Lahore, one of Pakistan’s two great hockey centres along with Karachi, a chance to watch international teams on home soil.
Hosting the tournament is also a vote of confidence in Pakistan as a venue. The PHF has worked for years to bring international hockey back, and the Nations Cup is the biggest event it has secured since the sport’s international calendar moved away from the country.
A busy February for Pakistan hockey
The Nations Cup is the latest in a run of hockey news for Pakistan. The Pakistan Hockey League was launched in Islamabad last month, with its first season planned for 2027, and the nationwide schools hockey league began this week, with tehsil rounds starting on November 15.
February 2027 is now set to be a crowded month for the national team at home. Canada are due to visit for a bilateral series in Islamabad from February 8 to 21, just before the Nations Cup begins in Lahore.
For the players, the Nations Cup offers something more than home support. A win in Lahore would put Pakistan back in the Pro League for 2027-28, restoring the team to the top tier of world hockey after years of rebuilding.
Frequently asked questions
When is the FIH Nations Cup in Lahore?
The tournament runs from February 19 to 28, 2027, in Lahore.
Which teams are playing?
Ten teams: Pakistan, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Korea, Ireland, Egypt, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and the United States.
What does the winner get?
The winner earns a place in the 2027-28 FIH Pro League. The runner-up could also qualify if the winner declines the invitation.
When did Lahore last host a major hockey tournament?
Lahore last hosted the Champions Trophy in 2004. It has not staged a major international hockey tournament since then.
Who won the last Nations Cup?
France won the most recent edition, beating South Africa 2-1 in the final. Pakistan were runners-up in the 2024-25 edition.
