Hockey World Cup 2026: India’s Road to Quarter‑Finals Hinges on Pakistan Match

India’s journey to the knockout phase of the 2026 Hockey World Cup depends on a single result – a win over Pakistan in their final Group D fixture. The match is set for Wednesday at the Wagener Stadium in Emstelveen, Netherlands. After a 2‑0 triumph over Wales and a 1‑2 setback against England, India holds one win and one defeat, sitting second in the group.

Pakistan, the group’s under‑dog, has collected a point from a draw and lost the other match, occupying the fourth spot. The two nations have a deep‑rooted rivalry, having faced each other 183 times across all competitions. While Pakistan leads in overall wins, India has a superior record in World Cup clashes, winning three of the five previous meetings, the latest being a 4‑1 victory in 2010.

The clash will begin at 6:30 pm Indian time and will be aired live on Star Sports Select 2, its HD feed, and Star Sports Hindi, with a live stream accessible through the JioStar app and website.