~ The Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team, under new coach Frederic Soyez, is gearing up for six matches against Austria, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands during their tour in Belgium this July ~
New Delhi, 25 June 2026: The Indian Junior (U-21) Men’s Hockey Team is ready for an exciting tour to Belgium, where they’ll compete in six matches against top European teams: Austria, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. This tour will be an essential step for the team as they prepare for the Men’s Junior Asia Cup later this year, under the guidance of coach Frederic Soyez.
During the tour, India will play two matches against Austria and Belgium each, along with one match against Germany and the Netherlands. The matches are scheduled from July 7 to 17, 2026. Most games will take place at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium, with the final match against the Netherlands being hosted at the Hockey Center of Excellence in Antwerp.
The Indian team will kick off their campaign against Austria on July 7, followed by another match with them on July 8. They will then clash with the host nation Belgium on July 10, take on Germany on July 13, and face Belgium again on July 14. The tour will wrap up with a final match against the Netherlands on July 17.
This tour presents a fantastic chance for the young Indian squad to challenge itself against some of the best hockey teams in Europe. The matches are expected to provide vital experience in handling different playing conditions and styles.
Before the tour, coach Soyez expressed his excitement, saying, “I’m looking forward to my first tour with this group. It’s a wonderful opportunity to understand the players in a different setting while laying the groundwork for our gameplay. Tours like this are crucial in building team unity and establishing a strong team identity.”
He further added, “These matches are significant as they simulate the conditions we’ll face in major competitions. They will help us evaluate our performance levels, how we can implement our strategies under pressure, and how we respond against high-quality opponents.”
