The city of Rajgir in Bihar is getting ready to welcome Asia’s best as they stake their claim to qualify for the upcoming World Cup. India, despite their horror show in the FIH Pro League, will start as favorites. Malaysia, Korea, and Japan will hope to cause an upset. Pakistan, after showing some resurgence in the Nations Cup, is still unsure of its participation.
The winner of the Asia Cup secures direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. So the stakes for participating teams could not be higher. While teams sweat it out to prepare, here’s a quick preview of who’s playing and what they bring.
The Tournament Favorites: India
Despite the disastrous second half of their Pro League campaign, India are still favorites to win the Asia Cup. Recent history, head-to-head record, and squad depth all point in their favor. No other team comes close in terms of match experience or exposure. India has been regularly competing against the best through the FIH Pro League, something other Asian teams haven’t qualified for.
Their Pro League form hasn’t been great, which might give others hope, but India is too strong to implode at this level. Their bench is deeper, their tempo higher, and the gap between them and the rest of Asia is still significant.
Participation Doldrums: Pakistan
Will they or won’t they? The question of Pakistan’s participation remains open. While the Indian government has granted permission for them to compete, there are reports that Pakistan might skip the tournament. Despite their low rank of 18, they’ve shown glimpses of resurgence. They reached the final of the recent FIH Nations Cup and nearly qualified for the Pro League.
Pakistan remain a work in progress. They can’t match top teams in fitness, but they make up for it with flair and individual skills. On their day, they can be dangerous. If they do turn up, they could add an unpredictable twist to the tournament.
The Chasers: Malaysia, Korea, Japan
One thing going against all Asian challengers is the lack of match practice.
Korea has suffered the most. Winners of five Asia Cups, they’ve seen drastic funding cuts. In 2025, they’ve played just five games and won only two. They finished fourth in the Nations Cup. Even in 2024, their win rate was barely 25 percent. They are a shadow of their former selves and slipping in Asia as well. The 2022 champions will need something special this time.
Japan has also slowed down since the Tokyo Olympics. Winners of the 2018 Asian Games, they looked promising in the 2018–2020 stretch, but the momentum faded. In 2025, they’ve won just one game out of five played. Their 2024 wins came against Ukraine, Canada, and Malaysia. Based on current form, they don’t look like title contenders.
Malaysia are the dark horse. Their performances are often unpredictable, which makes them hard to assess. However, since 2024, their biggest scalp is New Zealand, which speaks about the team’s regression. Historically, Malaysia have troubled India, but their recent form doesn’t suggest an upset is coming.
The Final Pack: China, Oman, Chinese Taipei
China’s men are still playing catch-up while their women’s team rises. Along with Oman and Chinese Taipei, who qualified through the AHF Cup, they round out the eight-team tournament. These teams are unlikely to challenge for the title, but this event gives them much-needed exposure and match experience against top-tier sides.
Asia Cup 2025 is India’s tournament to lose. They are the highest-ranked team, the most experienced, and the most consistent across the last Olympic cycle. The question now is: can anyone else step up and challenge them?
Let us know, who are you backing to take the World Cup spot?
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