ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Hockey Federation has announced that the Youth Under-18 National Hockey Championship 2026, will be held from April 9 to April 19, with 16 teams from across the country vying for top honours.
According to the tournament schedule, the participating teams have been divided into four pools. Pool A comprises Pak Customs, KPK 2, Punjab 4, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Pool B includes Punjab 1, Sindh 2, Balochistan, and KPK 1. Pool C features Police, Punjab 2, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad, while Pool D consists of Pak Education Board, Sindh 1, Punjab 3 and Pak Army.
The championship will commence on April 9 with four matches lined up on the opening day. KPK 2 will take on Gilgit-Baltistan, while Sindh 2 will face Balochistan. In other fixtures, KPK 1 will clash with Punjab 1 and Pak Customs will meet Punjab 4.
The group stage matches will continue for six consecutive days until April 14, followed by a rest day on April 15 before the knockout rounds begin. The quarterfinals will be played on April 16. The winner of Pool A will face the runner-up of Pool B, while the winner of Pool C will take on the runner-up of Pool D. The third quarterfinal will see the winner of Pool B play the runner-up of Pool A, while the fourth will feature the winner of Pool D against the runner-up of Pool C.
The semifinals are scheduled for April 17 at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM, with the winners advancing to the final. The third-place match and the grand final will be held on April 19. The playoff for third position will begin at 1:30 PM, followed by the final at 3:30 PM, where the new champions will be crowned.
Officials believe the championship will serve as an important platform to identify emerging talent, offering young players an opportunity to progress to the national level and contribute to the future of hockey in Pakistan.
