The schedule for the Youth Under-18 National Hockey Championship 2026 has been announced, with the event set to begin on April 9.
Organised by the Pakistan Hockey Federation, the tournament will run from April 9 to April 19, featuring 16 teams from across the country competing for the title.
The teams have been divided into four pools. Pool A includes Pakistan Customs, KPK 2, Punjab 4 and Gilgit-Baltistan. Pool B comprises Punjab 1, Sindh 2, Balochistan and KPK 1. Pool C features Police, Punjab 2, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad, while Pool D includes Pakistan Education Board, Sindh 1, Punjab 3 and Pakistan Army.
Four matches will be played on the opening day. KPK 2 will face Gilgit-Baltistan, while other fixtures include Sindh 2 versus Balochistan, KPK 1 against Punjab 1, and Pakistan Customs taking on Punjab 4.
The group stage matches will continue for six consecutive days until April 14, followed by a rest day on April 15.
Quarter-finals are scheduled for April 16, while semi-finals will be held on April 17. The final, along with the third-place match, will take place on April 19, with the title clash set to begin at 3:30pm.
Officials said the event is expected to unearth emerging talent from across the country, providing young players an opportunity to progress to the national level.