Hockey India (HI) President Dilip Tirkey announced that the 2026 Hockey India League (HIL) will expand to three venues, moving beyond the previous two-city format of Rourkela and Ranchi, as stated during the ongoing men’s Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar. The men’s HIL will remain an eight-team competition, while the women’s event may grow from four to six teams, with ongoing discussions to finalize the expansion.

However, two teams—Gonasika (men) and Odisha Warriors, the 2025 women’s champions—have withdrawn for personal reasons, prompting HI to seek replacements and schedule a mini-auction for late September or early October 2026 to reallocate players.

Tirkey confirmed that one of the three venues will be in Odisha, with a decision pending between Rourkela’s Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium and Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium, while the other two cities remain undisclosed. Plans to extend HIL to northern India, particularly Punjab’s Chandigarh and Mohali, were considered but deferred due to January fog concerns, with future expansion still on the horizon.

Addressing financial matters, Tirkey noted that all player dues from the 2024-25 HIL season, including those of Odisha Warriors, have been cleared, with payments facilitated using the team’s prize money after their approval.

The announcement comes as HI prepares for a packed 2026, with the HIL set to commence on January 5 and conclude by February 1, aligning with foreign players’ availability post-Christmas. The mini-auction will feature players from the withdrawn teams and those released by other franchises, ensuring competitive squads. Tirkey also emphasized HI’s commitment to fielding strong teams for the 2026 World Cup and Asian Games, balancing senior and emerging junior talent identified during the last HIL.

The expansion to three venues and potential growth in the women’s league signal HI’s ambition to elevate Indian hockey’s global profile while fostering regional engagement.

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