India vs Netherlands head-to-head: What is the H2H record between India and Netherlands in FIH Women's Hockey World Cup?
India’s only World Cup win against Netherlands came way back in 1974
The Indian women’s hockey team have qualified for round two of the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026, and the contest awaiting them is their toughest challenge so far, as they will face the Netherlands, who also happen to be the hosts, reigning champions, and No. 1-ranked side.
India earned their spot the hard way. A 2-2 draw with China got the campaign going, followed by a record-breaking 6-1 demolition of South Africa, before India gritted out a 0-0 draw against England in the pool finale, soaking up wave after wave of late pressure to finish second in Pool D.
Up next is a team that has lifted nine of the last 14 World Cups and hasn’t missed a final since 2006. The Dutch have basically owned this sport for half a century, and the head-to-head against India does not offer a lot of promise for the Indian fans.
Related: Who will India face in the second round of FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026?
India vs Netherlands head-to-head record in FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup
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The Netherlands have beaten India in almost every World Cup meeting they’ve had, with just one notable exception. Back in 1974, in the very first edition of the tournament in France, a young Indian team pulled off a shock win over the eventual champions in the group stage.
It is still the high point of this rivalry, and India went on to finish fourth that year, their best World Cup result ever. It has been mostly downhill since.
India lost to the Dutch in Madrid in 1978, then in Kuala Lumpur in 1983, and once more back in Madrid in 2006, as the gap between the sides kept widening tournament after tournament.
There has been one recent flicker of hope, though not at the World Cup.
In February 2025, India beat the Dutch in a shootout during the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar, clawing back from 0-2 down, just days after losing the first leg 2-4 to the same team.
Despite some modest results previously, team India would look to rewrite their own history on Friday. Either way, it’s shaping up to be India’s toughest assignment of the tournament yet.
Full India vs South Africa head-to-head
- 1974: India 1-0 Netherlands
- 1978: Netherlands 4-1 India
- 1983: Netherlands 2-1 India
- 1998: Netherlands 5-0 India
- 2006: Netherlands 3-2 India
- 2010: Netherlands 7-1 India
What is the head-to-head record between India and Netherlands in Women’s Hockey World Cup?
India and Netherlands have clashed six times in the competition’s history, with India winning just one and the Dutch the others.
What happened in the most recent meeting between India and Netherlands in Women’s Hockey World Cup?
The last meeting between these nations came in the 2010 edition of the World Cup in Rosario, Argentina. Netherlands won that Pool A meeting by a big 7-1 margin.
When did India defeat Netherlands in the Women’s Hockey World Cup?
India’s sole win over the Dutch in the World Cup came in the inaugural edition in 1974, when India edged past the Netherlands 1-0 in another Pool meeting.
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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.