India stormed into the second round of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 after beating arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 in a high-scoring classic at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, on Wednesday.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh (5’, 21’) and Abhishek (11’, 24’) scored twice each for India while Hardik Singh (35’) converted a penalty stroke. Hannan Shahid (22’, 46’) struck twice for Pakistan while Sufyan Khan (25’) was also on target.
With Wednesday’s result, India advanced to Pool E of the second round alongside England and the top two teams from Pool A, which consists of the Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand and Japan. Both India and Pakistan were in Pool D.
The top two teams from Pool E will progress to the semi-finals of the Hockey World Cup.
England, who had already assured themselves of a top-two spot, beat Wales 8-2 earlier on Wednesday to finish the opening phase with a perfect nine points.
India started on the front foot and needed only five minutes to open the scoring.
After Pakistan conceded successive penalty corners, Harmanpreet fired a low drag-flick past goalkeeper Ali Raza to put India ahead.
Abhishek doubled the advantage six minutes later when his ball across the face of goal took a deflection off a Pakistan stick and found the back of the net.
India carried their momentum into the second quarter and Harmanpreet made it 3-0 in the 21st minute. Rajinder Singh’s initial effort from a penalty-corner variation was saved but the Indian captain pounced on the loose ball and slammed it home for his second of the night.
Pakistan, however, responded almost immediately. Hannan Shahid capitalised on a rebound in the 22nd minute after Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera had made two saves in quick succession.
India restored their three-goal cushion through Abhishek two minutes later. The Indian forward worked his way through a crowded circle before his attempted pass took a deflection and went in for his second goal.
Sufyan Khan ensured Pakistan stayed in the contest by converting a penalty corner in the 25th minute as an action-packed first half ended 4-2 in India’s favour.
India extended their advantage five minutes after the restart when Aditya Arjun Lalage was brought down inside the circle. Hardik Singh stepped up for the resulting penalty stroke and calmly found the bottom corner to make it 5-2.
Pakistan refused to go away and Hannan Shahid grabbed his second just seconds into the final quarter, finishing off a counter-attack to cut India’s advantage to two goals.
India, however, held firm for the remainder of the contest to close out a 5-3 victory and extend their unbeaten run against Pakistan.
The latest contest was the first India vs Pakistan meeting at the Hockey World Cup since 2010, which India had won 4-1 in New Delhi.
The Wagener Hockey Stadium also holds a special place in the history of the rivalry. At the same venue 53 years ago, India beat Pakistan 1-0 in the semi-finals of the 1973 Hockey World Cup, with BP Govinda scoring the decisive goal.
Pakistan continue to lead the overall head-to-head, but India have dominated the rivalry in recent years.
Pakistan’s last victory over India came in the 2016 South Asian Games final. Since then, India have remained unbeaten in 20 consecutive matches against their neighbours, winning 18 and drawing two.
India had also completed a double over Pakistan during the London leg of the FIH Pro League in June, winning 4-3 and 7-1.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/fih-hockey-world-cup-2026-india-vs-pakistan-pool-d-match-report
