What India must do to reach the semi-finals of FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026?
(Courtesy : Hockey India)
India are currently second in Pool D with a match remaining
The Indian men’s hockey team suffered a major setback to their campaign after losing 2-4 against England in their second Pool D match on Monday at the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026. India led 2-1 at half-time but conceded three goals in the second half to suffer a disappointing defeat.
Nicholas Bandurak gave England the lead before Harmanpreet and Dilpreet Singh helped India stage a strong comeback. However, Stuart Rashmere and Henry Croft scored for England respectively, while Bandurak added his second goal to seal a 4-2 victory.
India will now face arch-rivals Pakistan in their last pool-stage match.
Related: India vs England Highlights, FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026
India’s qualification scenario explained
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The Harmanpreet Singh-led side must beat Pakistan to strengthen its chances of reaching the next round. If India lose, they will be knocked out of the tournament.
England currently lead the table with six points, while India are second with three points. Pakistan and Wales have one point each after two matches.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the second round, while the bottom two teams will play in the 9th-16th classification matches.
If India lose to Pakistan, they will be eliminated regardless of the other results.
If the match against Pakistan ends in a draw, India will need the Wales vs England match to either end in a draw or see Wales lose to England. However, if Wales beat England, the goal difference could determine which team finishes second in the group.
Should they reach the second round, India will face the other qualified team from their pool as well as the top two teams from Pool A (Netherlands & Argentina likely). All four teams will play each other once, with the top two finishers then advancing to the semis, while the other two teams will play in the 5th-8th place classification match.
How the match unfolded
India’s defensive lapses played a major role in their 2-4 defeat to England, making the upcoming clash against Pakistan a must-win encounter.
India had opened their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Wales and looked strong in the first half against England. They led 2-1 at the break after goals from Harmanpreet Singh and Dilpreet Singh.
However, England took control in the third quarter, scoring twice before adding another goal in the final quarter.
Nicholas Bandurak scored twice for England, while Stuart Rashmere and Henry Croft scored one goal each.
For India, Harmanpreet Singh and Dilpreet Singh found the net in the 25th and 17th minutes, respectively.
How does Pool D look after the India vs England match in FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026?
England lead the group with six points from two matches and have virtually confirmed their place in the second round. They are followed by India, who are on three points. Wales and Pakistan have a point each at third and fourth place respectively.
Who will India next face in Pool D of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026?
India will next meet Pakistan in their last match of the Pool Stage on August 19 (Wednesday).
How can India qualify for the semi-finals of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026?
India will need to avoid defeat against Pakistan in their last Pool match to confirm their place next stage of the competition. They will then need to finish in the top two in the next round as well to reach the semis.
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Namrata is a Delhi-based sports journalist who covers cricket, tennis, badminton, and a range of other sports. She has reported on major events including the T20 World Cup, ICC Women’s World Cup, IPL, and Wimbledon. Alongside handling live cricket coverage, she specialises in analytical and in-depth match stories. Over the years, Namrata has conducted exclusive interviews with some of India’s leading and emerging athletes, including shuttlers Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, and Krishna Nagar, as well as cricketers Navdeep Saini and Sneh Rana.