India bottom of Pool E after 0-2 loss to Netherlands at FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026

India lost 0-2 to the Netherlands in Pool E of the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026 on Thursday, leaving them bottom of the group after the first group stage concluded. All 16 teams completed their three first-round matches and the top two from each initial group advanced to the second round.

Under the tournament's new format, the eight teams that progressed have been split into two groups of four for Round 2, with sides that met in the first round kept apart for this stage. Teams that finish in the top two of Pools E and F at the end of Round 2 will progress to the knockout stage.

India are drawn in Pool E alongside reigning champions the Netherlands, Paris Olympics silver medallists China and two-time winners Australia; they began Round 2 with a 0-2 defeat by the Netherlands. India carried over the draw against China from Round 1 into this stage of the tournament.

India have one remaining match in Stage 2, against Australia, which will be played on August 23 (Sunday) and is scheduled to begin at 10:30 pm IST. That is India’s final fixture in Pool E.

India can still qualify for the semi-finals but must beat Australia and rely on the Netherlands defeating China in the other remaining Pool E match. The top two teams from Pool E will join the top two from Pool F in the semi-final places.

The teams that finished third and fourth in their respective first-round groups have been divided into two separate groups of four; their Round 2 standings will determine the matchups for the 9th-to-16th-place classification games.

India’s match against Australia on August 23 (Sunday) at 10:30 pm IST, together with the other remaining Pool E fixture between the Netherlands and China, will determine which two teams from Pool E qualify for the semi-finals.