India beat Pakistan 5-3 in Amstelveen but face steep task in World Cup second round
India beat Pakistan 5-3 in their Pool D match at the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026 in Amstelveen on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, and secured progression to the second round despite a performance the team described as below expectations. The win left India qualified for the next stage but with significant issues to address before facing stronger opposition.
Amstelveen hosted a large contingent of Indian supporters, prompting skipper Harmanpreet Singh to say the match felt like "playing in India" after scoring twice in the contest. India are pursuing their first world title in 51 years, yet the campaign so far has been mixed: the team has conceded eight goals, a tally described as the joint-fourth worst defensive record in the tournament, and has shown a drop in intensity and control when defending leads.
Harmanpreet scored two goals in the 5-3 victory and forward Abhishek Nain also netted twice, providing the bulk of India’s offensive output in the match. Photographs and social-media posts accompanying the coverage noted Harmanpreet spent time with supporters after the win; the team’s attack produced enough to win the Pool D game but not without defensive lapses.
In India’s final pool game, midfield errors by Hardik Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad contributed to two of Pakistan’s goals, while Wales created promising positions against India without converting them into goals. Those possession and decision-making errors inside India’s defensive 25 metres were singled out in assessments of the match.
Set-piece play has been a clear positive: India have scored the most goals (6) from Penalty Corners with an efficiency of 50%, a mark that has improved with Harmanpreet’s return to form. On the flip side, senior forward Mandeep Singh is still yet to score at the World Cup, and Abhishek Nain warned: "We need to improve because if we play with this kind of connection in the next few matches, I don’t think we will be able to score."
India previously lost 4-2 to world No. 3 England after surrendering an advantage when a relentless man-to-man press in the third quarter broke their shape. That defeat yielded no carryover points, meaning India advance to the second round without the cushion that a results carryover might have provided, and the report noted India have so far faced only one of the tournament’s top sides; their next opponents, Netherlands, and potentially Argentina, are unlikely to offer the same margin for error.
Head coach Craig Fulton, who preaches a 'defending to win' mantra, and captain Harmanpreet both stressed defensive improvement as urgent—Harmanpreet said: "100% defence." India will now prepare to meet the Netherlands in the second round and must address the defensive and connection issues highlighted during the pool phase before that fixture.