India hosts the largest field hockey fan base in the world — and the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 featuring India in Pool D alongside Pakistan, England, and Wales is the most anticipated hockey event on Indian television since the 2023 World Cup on Indian soil. The India vs Pakistan derby on August 19 at 22:00 IST will generate television viewership comparable to a cricket bilateral series. This is your complete guide to watching every match of HWC 2026 live in India — across JioHotstar, Star Sports (1, 2, 3), DD Sports, and without cable.
Is JioHotstar the official streaming platform for HWC 2026 in India?
Yes. JioHotstar — the merged OTT entity formed from the Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema integration in 2024 — holds exclusive digital streaming rights for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 in India. JioHotstar will stream all 96 matches (48 men's + 48 women's) live in HD. The key benefit for Indian fans: active Jio Mobile subscribers (4G/5G plans) get JioHotstar Sports access at no additional charge. Non-Jio users need a JioHotstar Sports subscription starting at ₹299/month. The app is available on Android, iOS, Smart TV (Samsung, LG, Sony), Apple TV, Chromecast, and Amazon Fire TV Stick.
Star Sports channel numbers for HWC 2026 in India
| Cable Provider | Star Sports 1 HD | Star Sports 2 HD | Star Sports 1 Hindi | DD Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tata Play (DTH) | Ch. 395 | Ch. 396 | Ch. 441 | Ch. 125 (FREE) |
| Airtel Digital TV | Ch. 453 | Ch. 454 | Ch. 459 | Ch. 204 (FREE) |
| Sun Direct | Ch. 319 | Ch. 320 | Ch. 334 | Ch. 102 (FREE) |
| Dish TV | Ch. 428 | Ch. 429 | Ch. 430 | Ch. 116 (FREE) |
| Local Cable (Typical) | Varies by operator | Varies | Varies | Ch. varies (FREE) |
⚠️ Star Sports 1 HD carries India-specific matches (India vs Wales, India vs England, India vs Pakistan) in English commentary. Star Sports 1 Hindi provides Hindi commentary for the same matches.
DD Sports — watch Hockey World Cup 2026 for free
DD Sports (Doordarshan) holds free-to-air broadcast rights for all India matches and selected knockout matches at HWC 2026 — a condition of the government's public broadcasting mandate for national team matches. DD Sports is available without a paid subscription on every cable and DTH connection in India. For viewers in rural India, smaller cities like Patna (800001), Bhopal (462001), Varanasi (221001), Nagpur (440001) where Star Sports HD may not be locally carried, DD Sports is the most accessible option. The DD Sports stream is also available free on the DD Sports App (Android and iOS, registration required).
India's Pool D match schedule in IST
| Match | Date | CEST | 🇮🇳 IST | PKT | Live On |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India vs Wales 🏴 | Aug 15 (Fri) | 20:30 | 00:00 (Aug 16) | 23:30 | JioHotstar • Star Sports 1 • DD Sports |
| India vs England 🏴 | Aug 17 (Sun) | 12:30 | 16:00 | 15:30 | JioHotstar • Star Sports 1 • DD Sports |
| India vs Pakistan 🇵🇰 DERBY | Aug 19 (Tue) | 18:30 | 22:00 IST ⭐ | 21:30 | JioHotstar • Star Sports 1/Hindi • DD Sports |
How to watch HWC 2026 without cable — Jio STB and Airtel Xstream
- Jio Set-Top Box (STB): The Jio STB bundled with an active JioFiber or Jio 4G plan includes JioHotstar Sports. Access HWC 2026 live via the JioHotstar app pre-installed on the Jio STB interface. No separate subscription required for active Jio users.
- Airtel Xstream Box/Stick: Active Airtel Broadband subscribers can access Star Sports and JioHotstar via the Airtel Xstream platform. India vs Pakistan on August 19 will be available in HD on both Star Sports 1 (channel 453 on Airtel Digital TV) and via JioHotstar within the Airtel Xstream app.
- Smart TV (without cable): Download the JioHotstar app on any Samsung, LG, or Sony Smart TV. Login with your Jio number. Sports Pack access streams all 96 HWC 2026 matches in 1080p HD on your TV screen.
For the complete India schedule with IST timings and venue information visit our India Schedule Hub. Track scores live at our Live Scores page. Complete streaming guide at Hockey Live Streaming Hub.