India Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams Enter Second Phase: What Lies Ahead in World Cups?

India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams have successfully progressed beyond the group stage at their respective World Cups, but the competition is about to get significantly tougher.

Both teams finished second in their groups and have qualified for the second phase, where stronger opponents and smaller margins for error await. The Indian men will face Netherlands and Argentina, while the women’s team is set to take on Netherlands and Australia.

India men survive difficult group stage

The Indian men’s hockey team began its campaign with a victory over Wales but suffered a heavy defeat against England. That loss made their final group-stage clash against Pakistan a virtual must-win encounter.

India responded with a 5-3 victory over Pakistan to secure qualification for the next phase.

The team has looked dangerous going forward, particularly through penalty corners, with captain Harmanpreet Singh scoring five goals in the tournament so far. Abhishek also provided a boost in open play with two field goals against Pakistan.

However, India’s defensive record remains a major concern heading into the next stage.

Defensive errors remain India’s biggest concern

Despite their attacking strength, the Indian men have conceded eight goals during the group stage. Several of those goals came from defensive lapses, an area that will come under even greater pressure against stronger opponents.

India will also begin the second phase without carrying any points forward following their defeat against England, leaving them with little room for further setbacks.

Indian women show signs of revival

The Indian women’s hockey team has delivered one of its most encouraging performances in recent years.

After missing out on the Paris Olympics and suffering relegation from the Hockey Pro League in 2025, the team entered the World Cup looking to rebuild under coach Sjoerd Marijne.

India drew against China and England and registered an impressive 6-1 victory over South Africa to finish second in their group.

The draw against England was particularly significant, with goalkeepers Savita and Bichu Devi making several crucial saves as India absorbed sustained pressure.

Unlike teams dependent on a single goalscorer, India have seen contributions from multiple players, while their defensive structure and intensity have remained encouraging.

What India need to improve

For the men’s team, improving defensive organisation will be crucial against Netherlands and Argentina.

The women’s team will need greater consistency throughout matches. Coach Sjoerd Marijne highlighted that India’s basic execution dropped at times against England, while passing accuracy also remains an area for improvement.

Maintaining intensity across all four quarters will be essential as India face two of the strongest teams in the competition.

India Hockey World Cup Phase 2 Schedule

Indian Men’s Team

• India vs Netherlands: August 22, 7:30 PM IST
• India vs Argentina: August 24, 6:15 PM IST

Indian Women’s Team

• India vs Netherlands: August 21, 9:30 PM IST
• India vs Australia: August 23, 10:30 PM IST

Netherlands pose biggest challenge

The Netherlands have been among the strongest teams in both competitions.

The Dutch men have scored 12 goals while conceding only three and will enter the match against India with home advantage. Argentina have also shown strong attacking form, scoring 11 goals in the group stage.

For the women’s team, Netherlands present an equally difficult challenge. The Dutch have scored 15 goals while conceding just two, with Yibbi Jansen and Marijn Veen expected to be among their biggest threats.

Australia will also pose a tough test for India, although the Indian women will take confidence from carrying one point into the second phase after their draw against China.

Road to the semi-finals gets tougher

Both Indian teams have successfully crossed the first hurdle, but the next phase will determine whether their World Cup campaigns can turn into genuine medal challenges.

The men will need to combine their attacking strength with a far more disciplined defensive performance, while the women must maintain their intensity and improve consistency against elite opposition.

With Netherlands, Argentina and Australia standing in their way, India now face their toughest test yet in the race for the Hockey World Cup semi-finals.