Azlan Shah Cup 2026: The Full Guide — USA’s Historic Debut, Pakistan’s Return, Australia’s Title Hunt

Eight days out, and Ipoh is nearly ready. The 32nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup starts on Friday 20 November, and this year’s field has a bit of everything: a debutant, a returning giant, the most successful team in the tournament’s history, and the hosts.

Six teams play a round robin at the Azlan Shah Stadium. The top two meet in the final on Saturday 28 November. Australia, Canada, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan and the United States. Scotland and South Africa, who played last year, are not in it this time. Defending champions Belgium aren’t either, so there will be a new name on the trophy.

The debutants

The United States are the story of the tournament before a ball is hit. This is their first ever Azlan Shah Cup. They open against Australia on the first day, which is about as tough an introduction as it gets, but that’s the point. Captain Aki Käppeler leads an 18-man squad, with Jonathan Klages in goal, and they get five games against proper international opposition in nine days. Win or lose, they leave Ipoh better for it.

Pakistan are back after missing the 2025 edition. Captain Abu Mahmood leads the side, with Sufyan Khan, Ammad Butt and Hannan Shahid in the 18. They open against Canada on Friday, then face the USA on Saturday, and the big one comes on Monday 23 November against Australia. The Malaysia game on Thursday 26 November is the one the whole tournament will be watching. Pakistan against the hosts, under lights, in Ipoh. It doesn’t get better than that.

Australia chasing number 11

Australia are the most successful team in Azlan Shah history with 10 titles, the last of them in 2018. They’re world number three and this is their first international hit-out since the 2026 World Cup. Co-captains Tim Howard and Anand Gupte lead an 18-man squad that includes debutants Duncan Jackson and Matthew Hawthorne. They’ve got the pedigree and the squad to win it, but they haven’t lifted this trophy in eight years, and the rest of the field knows it.

Malaysia are the hosts and the danger. Captain Marhan Jalil leads a 20-man squad, with Fitri and Faizal Saari up front and Hafizuddin Othman and Zaimi Mat Deris sharing the goalkeeping. They open against Korea on Friday night, and the home crowd will be loud from the first whistle.

Canada, captained by Matthew Sarmento, and Korea, captained by Kim Hyeong-jin, round out the field. Neither side will be anyone’s favourite, but in a six-team round robin where every game counts, one upset changes the whole table.

For our money, Australia start as favourites, but Malaysia at home with that crowd behind them are the pick to make the final. Pakistan’s first two games, Canada and the USA, will tell us plenty about whether they’re here to win it or just to be part of it.

Full fixtures (MYT, PKT in brackets):

Friday 20 November: Australia v USA 3:00pm (12:00pm PKT); Pakistan v Canada 5:15pm (2:15pm PKT); Malaysia v Korea 7:30pm (4:30pm PKT)

Saturday 21 November: USA v Pakistan 3:00pm (12:00pm PKT); Australia v Korea 5:15pm (2:15pm PKT); Malaysia v Canada 7:30pm (4:30pm PKT)

Monday 23 November: Canada v Korea 3:00pm (12:00pm PKT); Pakistan v Australia 5:15pm (2:15pm PKT); USA v Malaysia 7:30pm (4:30pm PKT)

Tuesday 24 November: Korea v Pakistan 3:00pm (12:00pm PKT); Canada v USA 5:15pm (2:15pm PKT); Malaysia v Australia 7:30pm (4:30pm PKT)

Thursday 26 November: Australia v Canada 3:00pm (12:00pm PKT); Korea v USA 5:15pm (2:15pm PKT); Malaysia v Pakistan 7:30pm (4:30pm PKT)

Saturday 28 November: 5th/6th place play-off 3:00pm (12:00pm PKT); bronze medal match 5:30pm (2:30pm PKT); final 8:00pm (5:00pm PKT)