Key takeaways from India's campaign at FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026
(Courtesy : Hockey India)
India finished eighth, following a disappointing run in the competition
A dismal campaign came to an end for the Indian team, who went down fighting against Belgium in the 7/8-place classification match at the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026. The World Number 8 side did tremendously well to score a goal in the final minute and steal a 3-3 draw. However, the top-ranked side held their nerve to edge past in the shootout 4-3.
With much expected from the Men in Saffron, an eighth-place finish has left fans tremendously disappointed. They failed to win against any of the top ten sides, securing victories only against Wales and arch-rivals Pakistan.
With the event concluding on Sunday, let us take the opportunity to have a look at the takeaways from India’s campaign:
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World Cup drought continues
For a nation with such a rich legacy in hockey, the Indian Hockey Team has just a solitary Men’s Hockey World Cup title to show that it won back in 1975. More concerning is that they haven’t even reached the semi-finals in any edition since.
It is no secret that the Olympics carry greater weight than the Men’s Hockey World Cup in hockey. And the Indian Hockey Team does have the results to show it, being the only team to have medalled at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
Hence, there is always a lot of hype before the Men’s Hockey World Cup, with a squad of this quality expected to deliver. However, this has failed to translate into results.
Errors and more errors
To succeed in any sport, the fundamentals need to be followed. This was one of the Indian Hockey Team’s biggest holes throughout the competition. They were unable to keep possession of the ball, handing turnovers in the midfield. Quite often, the defence was caught napping and ball-watching, with key opposition forwards being unmarked.
In the first big tournament in more than a decade without the legendary PR Sreejesh, both goalkeepers failed to step into the big shoes. HS Mohith was impressive in parts, but Suraj Karkera was a huge disappointment. One would feel several goals could have been avoided if the goalkeepers had put on a better showing.
Also, it is essential to have all 11 players on the pitch for the maximum duration. It is worth noting that Nilakanta Sharma’s green card in the opening round versus England marked the start of the rut.
Abysmal defence
In modern hockey, there is no room for lapses as the consequences are heavy. Unfortunately for the Paris Olympics bronze medallists, the errors at the back failed to terminate — mispasses, mistraps, ugly fouls and so on. Amit Rohidas, who has been so consistent over the years, had a horrible competition. Jarmanpreet Singh was another cause for concern.
The Indian Hockey Team conceded five goals against Argentina and four against England, besides yielding three each against Netherlands, Belgium and lower-ranked Pakistan. With such stats, securing wins is nearly impossible. Even worse, India were not only struggling to get points on the table, but also to manage their below-par goal difference.
RELATED: Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026: India finish eighth after shootout loss to Belgium
Lack of goal-scoring options
A similar storyline unfolded across years, as the field goals failed to come. The final touch in the attacking circle was missing, as the team struggled to create even penalty-corner opportunities on many occasions. The likes of Sukhjeet, Abhishek and Dilpreet all got onto the scoresheet at different points in the tournament, but often failed to come together as a unit when necessary.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh continued to be the talisman, finishing among the top three goal scorers in the competition with eight goals. However, he was struggling with a recurring back injury. To add to that, he was the sole drag-flicker in three outings, with Jugraj Singh not on the team sheets. This made penalty corners predictable, with teams hurling double rushers to counter the Indian skipper.
Craig Fulton under the scanner
Coach Craig Fulton has been trying to employ the European-organised style of hockey rather than the traditional fast-paced game for the Indian Hockey Team. But unfortunately, it’s failing to yield the desired results. India has been below par after the Paris Summer Games. They finished eighth among nine teams at the last edition of the Pro League.
The Men’s Hockey World Cup run compounds the South African’s woes. With some players seemingly past their prime, it is imperative to have a new crop ready through the Hockey India League and the Pro League.
Men’s hockey is arguably at its competitive best in a long time. Teams continue to build and innovate, with any shortcomings being severely punished. While Fulton does have the talent at his disposal, he would need to put in some work to get the team back to where they belong. Otherwise, his own spot would be under severe scrutiny. He doesn’t have much time, with the Asian Games coming up in a few weeks. A top-of-the-podium finish is a must, considering that would seal them a spot at the LA 2028 Olympics.
Currently, where is India ranked in Men’s Hockey?
India is currently ranked eighth in the FIH Men’s Hockey ranking.
How many times has India won the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup?
India has won the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup only once to date, in 1973.
How many times has India won gold in men’s hockey in Asian Games?
At the Asian Games, Indian men have won the gold medal in hockey four times — 1966, 1998, 2014, 2022.
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