India beat Pakistan 5-3 in Amstelveen to progress from Pool D at FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026
India defeated Pakistan 5-3 in their final Pool D match at the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 in Amstelveen on Wednesday, securing second place in the group and progression to the tournament's second round.
England finished top of Pool D with three consecutive wins; India took second place while Pakistan and Wales moved into the classification phase. England and India each finished with six points, and Pakistan and Wales ended the pool with one point apiece.
Harmanpreet [5′, 21′], Abhishek [11′, 24′] and Hardik Singh [35′ PS] scored for India, while Hannan Shahid [22′, 46′] and Sufiyan Khan [24′] netted for Pakistan.
India opened the scoring after sustained pressure around the Pakistan circle when a ricochet off Abhishek’s reverse effort led to a penalty corner; the captain’s first drag-flick struck the rusher’s foot, the retake was awarded and the second attempt was converted. Shilanand Lakra then won a subsequent penalty corner that was saved, and an Aditya solo run from the right produced a promising passage that failed to find a teammate inside the circle.
Play remained intense into the second quarter: an aerial into the circle set up Abhishek to score after a deflection wrong-footed the goalkeeper, and later a sequence beginning with Hardik’s long scoop produced a penalty corner variation in which a saved attempt rebounded for another finish. Pakistan responded quickly after a turnover in midfield left them with a chance from a long corner and Hannan reacted to score; they also converted a penalty corner through Sufiyan during the same period. Sumit produced a key defensive clearance to deny another Pakistan set-piece.
In the third quarter India were awarded a penalty stroke after Aditya was pushed inside the circle; Hardik converted the spot-kick. India then missed a one-on-one opportunity when Sukhjeet lost control as the ball ran beyond the baseline, and Pakistan reduced the deficit when an error in India’s midfield allowed Hannan to net his second. Pakistan sought further chances in the final quarter, earning a penalty corner in the 58th minute and attempting a variation that broke down when an attacker failed to anticipate the pass, but India limited clear openings thereafter and held on to win 5-3.
India will next be in action in the second round, and will face the top two placed teams from Pool A, with the first match on August 22.