India eliminated after goalless draw with Australia at FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026

India were held to a 0-0 draw by Australia at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen on Sunday in a Pool E match at the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026, a result that ended India’s chances of reaching the semi-finals. Australia progressed to the last four on the goals-scored tiebreak and will join defending champions Netherlands from Pool E.

Only a victory would have taken India through from Pool E; instead they finished third with two points from three matches and a goal difference of -2, compared with China’s -3 although both teams had two points. India will contest the tournament’s fifth-sixth place playoff and are next scheduled to play on August 27; their opponent will be the team that finishes third in Pool F.

Australia began the match with greater possession and appeared to score in the second minute, but the goal was overturned after India sought a video referral that showed the ball had deflected off an Australian attacker into an Indian defender. Early pressure continued: Sushila Chanu’s 16-yard hit in the eighth minute was intercepted and, in the 10th minute, Savita palmed away an Amy Lawton attempt to keep the score level.

India’s response included an attacking move that resulted in Navneet being penalised for a stick-check inside the circle, and Salima made progress down the right before Navneet’s follow-up was cleared by the Australian defence. At the start of the second quarter Savita was replaced by Bichu Devi, who immediately produced a fine diving save in the 19th minute to deny Grace Young.

India frequently attacked down the right flank with Salima and Navneet combining, but Australia’s defence remained compact and hard to break. During the half, Ishika was temporarily forced off after a blow to the head and Lalremsiami also left the pitch after appearing to injure her left leg; both returned after receiving medical attention.

India earned their first penalty corner in the 30th minute with Deepika off the pitch; Navneet took a variation but Australia defended successfully and the teams went into half-time level at 0-0. After the break Stephanie Kershaw came close in the 38th minute when her effort struck the sideboard, and shortly after the 40th minute the umpire initially awarded an Australian penalty-corner goal that was then ruled out following a video referral.

India produced attempts of their own, including a Shilpi strike that flashed across the face of goal and a 45th-minute move in which Rutuja Dadaso Pisal set up Deepika for a centre with no Indian stick to finish. Early in the final quarter Australia were awarded a penalty corner after an Indian foot was spotted inside the circle; Australia’s appeal that the ball had struck Salima’s foot was rejected after a referral showed the ball had come off a stick.

In the closing stages a Salima mis-clearance in the 54th minute gave an Australian striker a shooting chance that Bichu blocked with her outstretched leg, and Salima again cleared following a subsequent Australian corner. India removed their goalkeeper with more than five minutes remaining in search of a winner; Australia won a penalty corner in the 59th minute, India’s referral against the decision failed, and the corner stood for a stick-tackle inside the 23-metre area but no goal followed as Salima prevented the drag-flick from being executed and the match finished 0-0.

The draw eliminated India from semi-final contention and allowed Australia to advance from Pool E on the goals-scored criterion alongside Netherlands. India will play in the fifth-sixth classification match on August 27 against the team that finishes third in Pool F.