India vs Belgium head-to-head: What is the H2H record between India and Belgium in FIH Men's Hockey World Cup?
India vs Belgium match for a seventh-position finish will be played on August 28
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India’s campaign at the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 ended after a heartbreaking finish to the second stage. The Harmanpreet Singh-led side went down 3-5 to Argentina in their final Pool E match, ending their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
Craig Fulton’s side headed into the Argentina game needing a win by at least two goals and a favourable result from the Netherlands-England match, to have a mathematical shot at reaching the last four.
Instead, their campaign unravelled further as Argentina ran out 5-3 winners, with Tomas Domene orchestrating the scoring for Los Leones.
India finished bottom of Pool E without a point from their final two outings, sealing their exit from medal contention. With the podium out of reach, India now shift focus to the classification matches, where they will face Belgium for the seventh-place finish.
India vs Belgium head-to-head record in FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup
India and Belgium’s rivalry has grown sharper over the last decade, since Belgium transformed from a mid-table European team into a dominant side, winning the Olympics in 2020, the World Cup in 2018, and achieving the World No. 1 ranking.
The two sides have met at the World Cup on a handful of occasions. The most recent clash came in 2018, when India hosted the tournament in Bhubaneswar.
Manpreet Singh’s side fought back from behind to level the contest, only for Belgium to equalise through Simon Gougnard, leaving the match tied 2-2 in a pool-stage fixture.
Also Read: What is India’s best-ever finish at FIH Hockey World Cup?
Before that, at the 2014 edition in The Hague, India endured a difficult tournament opener, going down 2-3 to Belgium. However, India still leads the head-to-head in World Cup matches due to their wins over Belgium in 1978 and 1994.
Full India vs Belgium head-to-head record
- 1978: India 1-0 Belgium
- 1994: India 4-2 Belgium
- 2014: Belgium 3-2 India
- 2018: India 2-2 Belgium
How many times have India and Belgium met at the Men’s Hockey World Cup?
India and Belgium have clashed four times in the Hockey World Cup, with India leading the head-to-head by 2-1, while one match ended in a draw.
What is the head-to-head record between India and Belgium in Men’s Hockey World Cup?
India and Belgium have met on four occasions in the Men’s Hockey World Cup history, with the former winning two of those meetings while Belgium have won one and another ended in a draw.
When did India and Belgium first meet at the Men’s Hockey World Cup?
Their first meeting was in the fourth edition of the tournament in 1978. It was a Pool A clash, which India won y 1-0 margin.
What happened in the most recent meeting between India and Belgium in Men’s Hockey World Cup?
The last time India and Belgium clashed at the Hockey World Cup was in 2018, when the tournament was held in India. It was a pool phase clash, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
What is the biggest margin of victory in India vs Belgium matches at the Men’s Hockey World Cup?
The biggest win in the World Cup matches between India and Belgium is the 4-2 victory for India in 1994.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.