Indian men's hockey team head coach Craig Fulton is preparing for an unprecedented challenge in 2026. With the FIH Hockey World Cup and the Asian Games separated by less than three weeks, Fulton is devising a unique strategy: selecting and managing two separate squads to compete for glory in both marquee events.
The 2026 Conundrum: A Packed Calendar
The upcoming year presents a monumental puzzle for Indian hockey. The World Cup, where a medal has eluded India for decades, is followed rapidly by the Asian Games, where the gold medalist secures direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. "If you said to European hockey teams that you're going to play the World Cup and three weeks later, you're playing the Euros... they'd say you're mad," Fulton stated in an exclusive conversation. However, he emphasized that India must create the best possible plan to navigate this demanding schedule.
The Two-Group Blueprint
Fulton's solution is to build depth and flexibility within the national pool. The plan will be tested soon during the Pro League matches in February. One group will play the first four Pro League games in Rourkela, while a second group will travel ahead to Hobart, Australia, to acclimatize for the next leg, avoiding a grueling 35-hour travel turnaround. This approach, Fulton explained, is a precursor to handling the World Cup-Asian Games block.
"We're possibly going to have two groups... We'll do this block and see how we go with this, expose a few more players because we'll need a few more players to do the World Cup-Asian Games block," the coach elaborated. He confirmed that Hockey India has authorized additional staff support to manage the split squads effectively.
Building the Bigger Team: HIL and Beyond
To identify talent for these expanded groups, Fulton is keenly observing the ongoing Hockey India League (HIL) and recent junior tournaments. "We have a really competitive squad now. But now just to open it up again to see if we haven't missed anyone," he said, mentioning players from the Under-21 World Cup. He noted that HIL, where Indian captains lead all eight franchises, is an excellent platform to identify leadership qualities beyond the official captain's band.
The team's recent training block in South Africa, which included intense physical activities like trekking Lion's Head, surfing in Muizenberg, and a 40km mountain bike ride, was designed to build off-field cohesion. Sessions with mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton reinforced the philosophy: "bigger the dream, bigger the team."
As 2026 approaches, Craig Fulton's strategy is clear. India will not choose between the World Cup and the Asian Games. Instead, through meticulous planning, squad rotation, and building a robust leadership culture, the team aims to field competitive sides in both tournaments and chase historic results on the global and continental stage.
