India 1-3 Netherlands Highlights, FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026: NED Secure Clinical Victory, IND Go Down Fighting

Greetings, we are back with another live blog -- India vs Netherlands second round match of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup. Stay tuned for live updates.

In international men's field hockey, the head-to-head record between India and the Netherlands reflects a fiercely competitive rivalry where the Dutch hold a historical edge. Across all matches played between the two nations, the Netherlands have claimed the majority of victories, though recent encounters have proven that India is fully capable of turning the tide—including a notable 3-2 victory earlier in the year.

However, when narrowing the focus strictly to the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, the contest heavily favors the European powerhouse: the Netherlands boast a dominant 7-0 win-loss record against India across their World Cup history. This lopsided streak dates back to their first-ever meeting in the dramatic 1973 final—where the Dutch won 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 deadlock—and includes subsequent high-stakes clashes like the 2018 quarterfinals.

Indian viewers can catch the India vs Netherlands Hockey World Cup clash live on Star Sports, which holds the tournament’s television rights in India. The match will be available across the network’s SD and HD channels. For fans preferring digital coverage, the game will be streamed live on JioHotstar, allowing viewers to follow the action on the go. The 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup is being broadcast in India through JioStar’s Star Sports network and JioHotstar platform.

Under the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup's revamped tournament format, a team's points from the initial pool stage do carry over, but only from their match against the other team that qualified alongside them from their original group (in India's case, England from Pool D). Points or goal differences earned against the other eliminated teams in their preliminary group (such as Pakistan or the fourth-place team) are discarded and do not transfer into the second-round crossover pool (Pool E). Because India advanced alongside England, they carry forward only that specific head-to-head result, meaning they start the next phase with a clean slate against new opponents like the Netherlands and must battle entirely on the merit of upcoming matches to secure a semifinal berth.

First quarter underway! India is donning its white away kit today, while the Dutch are lined up in their classic orange threads. India are attacking from left to right. Netherlands are building up from right to left.

Manpreet Singh takes a painful blow to the hip from a Dutch slap pass, but he is thankfully okay to continue. India opts for a calm, measured approach, holding possession and building steadily from the back before Jarmanpreet Singh switches the flank, brings the ball down brilliantly, and unleashes a reverse shot that is safely handled by the defense.

India continue to dominate possession, forcing Dutch goalkeeper Derk Meijer to kick away a dangerous pass-shot on goal, shortly before a lively Dilpreet Singh cleverly retains the ball inside the D without earning a penalty corner. At the other end, Floris Wortelboer's reverse hit takes a massive deflection into the side netting, briefly fooling the crowd into celebrating a goal before a video replay confirms it missed the target.

As the opening quarter draws to a close, the Netherlands mount a late surge of pressure, though India manages solid spells of possession while methodically building attacks. Ultimately, nothing separates the two sides as the first period winds down in a tightly contested deadlock.

The second quarter gets underway with India keeping early possession before the Netherlands wrestle it back, leading to Terrance Pieters driving the ball into the D where it strikes Sumit’s foot to concede a penalty corner. Although the initial drag-flick from Jip Janssen is botched, the resulting scramble forces another deflection off Sumit's leg, immediately awarding the Dutch their third penalty corner of the match.

Manpreet steps up once more to deflect the danger behind the goal line, shortly before Vivek Sagar Prasad dances past a defender to slide a pass across the D, only to find no teammate waiting at the far post. The Dutch quickly counter-attack.

Soon after Derk Meijer denies India with a stunning point-blank block after Manpreet drills a slap pass into the circle for Dilpreet, who is thwarted at close range by the advancing netminder.

The Craig Fulton-coached squad has put on an impressive defensive masterclass, yet they are far from just absorbing pressure. India continues to showcase genuine composure in possession and plenty of attacking intent when transitioning forward, leaving the contest finely balanced with all to play for in the second half!

Despite controlling 60 percent of possession, India has managed only five circle entries compared to the Netherlands' 11. As the Dutch get the third quarter underway, the big question remains whether either side can finally break the deadlock.

Harmanpreet's initial drag-flick is blocked, but quick-thinking from Manpreet prompts a successful referral for a foot against the first rusher, earning India a consecutive penalty corner. Although Harmanpreet uncharacteristically misses the target this time, sending his drag-flick wide to the right of the goal, the pressure continues to mount on the Dutch defense.

GOAL! The deadlock is finally broken as the Netherlands take the lead! Tijmen Reyenga unleashes a bouncing reverse hit that falls invitingly into the circle, allowing Duco Telgenkamp to sweep it into the back of the net from close range.

Tempers flare as a penalty corner for India sparks a heated on-field scuffle, resulting in Shilanand Lakra receiving a two-minute green card for a wild swing that ignites a verbal clash with Floris Wortelboer and the Dutch players. When play resumes, Harmanpreet's penalty corner strike is blocked and the subsequent follow-up is snuffed out by a resolute Netherlands defense, though India continues to press relentlessly.

With the Dutch breaking the deadlock, India face a tough uphill battle to avoid a narrow defeat based on how the third quarter unfolded. To turn things around, Craig Fulton's side must rediscover the calm composure in possession they showed in the first half, clean up their entries into the opposition half, and mount a desperate final-quarter assault.

Abhishek wins another penalty corner for India while Harmanpreet is off the pitch, and after Amit Rohidas and Shilanand successfully refer a blocked play, the Indians earn a fresh set-piece. Amit steps up to unleash a vicious drag-flick destined for the roof of the net, only for Dutch goalkeeper Derk Meijer to pull off a sensational save!

GOAL! The Netherlands double their lead as a sweeping long pass from deep defense finds Koen Bijen, who fires a sharp shot across the goal for Thijs Hoedemakers to apply a deft touch past the Indian keeper and into the back of the net!

GOAL! India wins a penalty corner where Harmanpreet Singh’s initial strike forces a re-take, and the Indian captain makes no mistake the second time, lashing a powerful shot past the Dutch goalkeeper to pull one back and narrow the deficit to 1-2!

With under seven minutes remaining, India suffers a massive blow as captain Harmanpreet Singh is forced off the pitch with an apparent back issue, leaving the team to navigate the remainder of the match without their talisman. The Netherlands immediately capitalize on the disarray, with Thijs van Dam striking to extend the lead and leave India trailing 1-3.

As the clock winds down into the final three minutes, India throws everything forward in a desperate all-out assault, but a resolute Dutch defense stands firm and easily stifles the late surge. The Netherlands expertly manage possession, keeping their composure to run down the clock and seal the victory. And that is full-time! The Dutch secure the win to claim top spot in the standings, leaving India's semi-final hopes hanging by a thread.