FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026 Points Table Round 2 Updated: India drop to bottom after Dutch defeat
Top two teams from each group will advance further to the semi-finals
The FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 has moved into its business end, and the second-round Pool E and Pool F tables tell a story of contrasting fortunes for the eight teams still standing.
In Pool E, Netherlands have firmly consolidated their position at the top with a commanding 3-1 win over India, who drop to the bottom of the group.
The victory, added to the three points they carried over from Round 1, has taken the Dutch to six points from two matches, making the host nation one of the favourites to qualify for the semi-finals from Pool E.
England are in second place, with three points—carried over from their victory over India in Round 1.
In Pool F, things are a little tighter. Australia have made the strongest start. They needed a late Tom Craig strike to hold Belgium, but Australia sit on top of the Pool with four points.
Meanwhile, Spain defeated Germany to move to second place in the group. Although Germany and Spain both have three points from two matches each, Spain are ahead on head-to-head results. Hosts Belgium are at the bottom with one point.
FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 Points Table [Round 2]
Pool E Standings
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 2 | England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 3 |
| 3 | Argentina | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| 4 | India | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 0 |
Pool F Standings
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 |
| 2 | Spain | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Germany | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Belgium | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
Pool G Standings
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 6 |
| 2 | Pakistan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 4 |
| 3 | Wales | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 1 |
| 4 | Japan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 0 |
Pool H Standings
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ireland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 6 |
| 2 | South Africa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 |
| 3 | France | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 1 |
| 4 | Malaysia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 1 |
How many teams will qualify for semi-finals after round 2 of FIH Meb’s Hockey World Cup 2026?
The top two teams from each Pool (Pool E & F) will qualify for the semi-finals of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026.
What is India’s current position in Pool E of Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026?
India are currently at the bottom of Pool E after losing both of their matches against England (Round 1) and Netherlands.
Who will India play in Round 2 of FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026?
India will next face Argentina in their one remaining match in Stage 2. The match will be played on August 24 (Monday) and is scheduled to begin at 6:15 pm IST.
Can India still qualify for the semi-finals of Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026?
Yes, mathematically India can still qualify for the World Cup. But they will need Argentina to defeat England then they themselves will need to beat Argentina by a big margin and also hope England loses against the Netherlands.
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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.