The Indian men’s hockey team prevailed in one of the most anticipated matches of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 in a thrilling Pool D contest. The victory secured India’s place in the next phase of the tournament after a neck-and-neck encounter at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen. Harmanpreet Singh led the scoring charge with a brace, while Mandeep Singh, Abhishek and Hardik Singh also found the net.
India vs Pakistan Highlights, Hockey World Cup 2026
India entered the big-ticket contest after their 3-1 win over Wales was followed by a 4-2 defeat against England. Pakistan, meanwhile, needed a victory to keep their Hockey World Cup campaign alive.
The Indian attack responded emphatically. Captain Harmanpreet Singh was once again central to the team’s attacking output, scoring twice to put India in a commanding position. Mandeep Singh added another important goal before Abhishek and Hardik Singh completed India’s five-goal tally.
Pakistan refused to surrender and kept the contest alive by striking three times. However, India showed great composure and held firm in the closing stages to claim a memorable 5-3 victory against their arch-rivals.
Thanks to the win, India will now shift their focus to a bigger challenge in the next round, while Pakistan crash out of the Hockey World Cup.
When Will India Play Next In Hockey World Cup 2026?
The India hockey team will now move into the second phase of the World Cup, where the competition becomes even more demanding. The competition features a new format this year with the teams progressing from the opening pools and entering Pools E and F for the next stage. The top two sides from those pools will earn direct entry into the semi-final.
India’s next opponent and exact fixture will depend on the final Pool D standings and the outcomes of the other first-round matches. The men’s Hockey World Cup will conclude with the semi-finals and medal matches later in August, with the final scheduled for August 30 in Belgium.
