2 weeks ago
India, Pakistan Meet in High-Stakes World Cup Hockey Showdown
India and Pakistan are playing a very important field hockey match at the Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands.
The Hockey World Cup is a big tournament where countries from all over the world compete in field hockey.
India needs to at least tie the game to move on to the next round.
Pakistan must win the game, or they will be out of the tournament.
India has not lost to Pakistan in about ten years.
Pakistan has won the World Cup four times, but they are returning to the tournament after eight years away.
India has won medals at the last two Olympics.
Both teams know how much this match means, and in a match between these two rivals, anything can happen on the day.
India, with three points from two matches, need at least a draw against Pakistan to seal second place in Pool D of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026.
Pakistan, with one point, must win to keep their World Cup campaign alive after drawing 3-3 with Wales and losing 1-4 to England.
England have already qualified for the next round after winning both of their Pool D matches.
India have not lost to Pakistan in a decade, winning 17 and drawing two of their last 19 meetings, while Pakistan's last victory came at the 2016 Champions Trophy.
India captain Harmanpreet Singh has scored three goals from penalty corners in two matches, while coach Craig Fulton flagged defensive lapses and poor penalty-corner conversion as concerns.
- Who
- India and Pakistan men's national field hockey teams; Pakistan is captained by Abu Bakar Mahmood and India is coached by Craig Fulton
- What
- A Pool D clash of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026 that will decide which team advances to the next round
- Where
- Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen, Netherlands
- When
- Wednesday
- Why
- India need at least a draw to secure second place in the pool, while Pakistan must win to keep their World Cup campaign alive
India's View
Pakistan's View
Recent form and head-to-head record
India's View
India enter as clear favourites after going unbeaten against Pakistan for a decade, winning 17 of the last 19 meetings and beating them 7-1 and 4-3 in the Pro League this year.
Pakistan's View
Pakistan captain Abu Bakar Mahmood said rankings and past performance do not matter in an India-Pakistan match and that the team that plays well on match day will win.
Handling the occasion
India's View
India coach Craig Fulton said India must play their own style, stay clinical, and play the game rather than the occasion, avoiding the free gifts that let Pakistan create goals from nothing.
Pakistan's View
Pakistan, driven by the urgency of a must-win game, could be a dangerous opponent in a contest where emotions and intensity are certain to run high.
Key facts
- Event
- FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026 – Pool D
- Teams
- India vs Pakistan
- Venue
- Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen, Netherlands
- Stakes
- India need at least a draw to advance; Pakistan must win to stay alive
- India's campaign
- Beat Wales 3-1; lost 2-4 to England (three points)
- Pakistan's campaign
- Drew 3-3 with Wales; lost 1-4 to England (one point)
- Head-to-head
- India unbeaten against Pakistan for ten years – 17 wins and two draws in 19 meetings
- India captain
- Harmanpreet Singh, three goals in two matches, all from penalty corners
Quotes
Manpreet Singh
India's most experienced player with 419 caps
“The match against Pakistan will be good, but we are not underestimating them. They also have good drag-flickers, so we will have to avoid giving them penalty corners. We must also create opportunities and capitalise on them. We must focus on our natural game.”
theprint.in
“"We always have the rivalry; that’s never off the table. As a proud coach of the Indian team, you want to win every time you play against Pakistan. That’s a given."”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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