India v England in Pool D at Hockey World Cup as 32-year World Cup drought against England looms

India will meet world No. 3 England in a Pool D fixture at the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup on Monday, after India opened the tournament with a 3-1 win over Wales and England began with a 4-1 victory over Pakistan; India have not beaten England at a World Cup since 1994. The match carries heavy weight for both sides as they seek the top two positions in Pool D under the competition's new format.

India named Mohith (GK); Sumit, Jugraj, Harmanpreet, Sanjay; Rajinder, Manpreet, Hardik; Abhishek, Mandeep, Sukhjeet with substitutes Suraj (GK), Jarmanpreet, Amit Rohidas, Aditya, Dilpreet, Shilanand, Nilakanta. Under the tournament structure the top two teams from each pool advance to the second stage, regrouped into Pools E and F, and the result against a team already faced in the first round is carried forward; India and England each hold three points from their opening matches, making Monday’s outcome consequential for the route to the knockout phase.

The teams’ World Cup head-to-head record provides added context: India’s last World Cup victory over England came in Sydney in 1994, a 1-0 win in the fifth-sixth-place match; England then beat India 3-2 in 2002, 2006 and 2010, won 2-1 in 2014, the sides did not meet in 2018, and their most recent World Cup meeting in 2023 finished 0-0.

England arrive with recent strong form in global competition: they finished runners-up to Belgium in the 2025-26 Pro League, losing only two of their 16 matches, and their qualifying campaign featured wins over Japan, Egypt, the USA, Malaysia and Pakistan. England’s 4-1 win over Pakistan in their opening World Cup match was cited as evidence of their attacking momentum, while encounters with India during the London leg of the Pro League produced shootout results that yielded bonus points for both sides.

India’s 3-1 victory over Wales exposed areas for improvement. Harmanpreet Singh scored twice from penalty corners and Sanjay converted from a set piece, but India’s forwards created chances — notably Abhishek and Sukhjeet — without converting from open play, leaving the team reliant on set pieces and, according to the report, appearing to lose some intensity after scoring twice in the first quarter. India undertook a three-day training camp in Switzerland before the tournament; on preparation Harmanpreet said: “There are ups and downs in the game, but our focus is currently on the World Cup. We have come well prepared and the team is in form. We will focus on taking it match by match and creating as many scoring opportunities as possible.”

The match-up is expected to offer fewer openings than India faced against Wales, and the contest will test India’s ability to remain patient and convert the chances they create; India will also aim for improved coordination between their forwards, greater efficiency inside the circle and sustained pressure across all four quarters. England’s consistency at World Cups and recent form make them a stern test for India’s attack and defensive organisation.

A victory for either side would strengthen that team’s position before the remaining pool fixtures because points are carried forward into the second stage, while defeat would tighten the fight for the top two berths in Pool D.