FIH Hockey World Cup 2026: How Harmanpreet Singh-led India can still qualify for semi-finals; scenarios explained

The India men's hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, have their task cut out against Argentina in their final second-round Pool E clash at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen on Monday. India are in a spot of bother following their 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands in their first game.

India had also earlier suffered a 2-4 loss to England in their first-round Pool D match; hence, these two teams won't meet in the second round, with points carried forward.

As a result of their loss to England, India began the second round without any points, and their loss to the Netherlands has only added to the team's worries.

India needed Argentina to beat England in the Pool E clash on Saturday, and Argentina did so, beating the European side 4-2. That kept Pool E wide open, with only co-hosts Netherlands having qualified for the semi-finals with six points from two matches.

FIH Men's World Cup 2026 Pool E standings

How India can still qualify for semi-finals

India should beat Argentina by at least three goals to have any hope of qualifying for the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup semi-finals.

India currently have a goal difference of -4, and a three-goal win for India will improve their goal difference to -1. Argentina's goal difference will go down to -3. However, India still won't be in the semi-finals yet.

India will need the Netherlands to beat England in the other Pool E match. England are currently in second place with three points and a goal difference of 0. Should England beat the Netherlands, they will have six points from two matches, which will be enough for England to qualify.

Should the Netherlands beat England, that will take the Dutch side to nine points, whereas England will remain on three points.

If the Netherlands and England play out a draw and India beats Argentina by a big margin, England will still qualify as they would have four points, compared to England's three.

However, it won't be easy for India to beat Argentina if recent head-to-head encounters between the two teams are considered.

Earlier this year, Argentina had thumped India 8-0 and 4-2 across two matches in the FIH Pro League. 

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh is India’s top scorer in the ongoing World Cup, having scored six goals, but India will need other players to step up, too. Apart from Harmanpreet, Abhishek has scored two goals, whereas Dilpreet Singh has scored another.

India head coach Craig Fulton said the team still has a chance to reach the semi-finals and knows exactly what is required. He stressed the need to score goals while maintaining their structure and controlling the game.

“We have a lifeline to stay in the fight to reach the semi-finals. It is quite clear what we have to do,” India head coach Craig Fulton told Hockey India. “We need the goals, but at the same time we still need to manage our own game and maintain our structure," he added.