Hockey World Cup: What India need to against Pakistan to qualify

India's hockey campaign at the 2026 Hockey World Cup in Belgium & Netherlands suffered a significant blow after they were defeated 4-2 by England in their second Pool D match on Monday. After conceding an early goal, India briefly took the lead with goals from Captain Harmanpreet Singh and Dilpreet Singh. However, England mounted a strong comeback, scoring three unanswered goals to secure the victory.

Currently, India finds themselves second in Pool D with three points from two matches, while England leads the table with six points. Pakistan and Wales have one point each after their 3-3 draw earlier on Monday. India will face Pakistan in their final Pool D match on Wednesday, with the outcome determining their qualification for the second round.

A win against Pakistan would secure India's top-two finish, while a draw would require them to beat or tie with Wales. If India lose, their qualification chances will hinge on the result between England and Wales, with the second spot ultimately decided by goal difference.