Pakistani streaming platform Tapmad has acquired exclusive digital and television broadcast rights for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, which takes place in Belgium and the Netherlands from 15 to 30 August, the FIH confirmed.
The deal gives Tapmad sole broadcast rights across both streaming and linear television channels in Pakistan, with the platform committing to deliver ad-free, HD coverage. Pakistan qualified for the tournament at the FIH World Cup Qualifiers held in Ismailia, Egypt, marking the national team’s return to the flagship event after an eight-year absence. The team is drawn in Pool D alongside India, England and Wales, with the Pakistan-India fixture on 19 August among the most anticipated group-stage matches.
Tapmad CEO Yassir Pasha described the acquisition as part of a deliberate strategy to revive hockey as a mainstream sport in Pakistan, having already broadcast the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2025, the FIH Hockey Pro League and the World Cup Qualifiers through the platform.
Editor’s Note: The rights acquisition is as much a content strategy signal as a sports deal. Tapmad has been building a differentiated position in Pakistan’s streaming market through sports exclusives — including the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 — at a moment when the platform is competing against free-to-air television and international OTT services for subscriber growth. Pakistan’s emotional connection to hockey, reinforced by the national team’s qualification after eight years, makes this a high-visibility acquisition for the platform heading into the tournament season.
