FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 Second Round Standings, Schedule, Results
The FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 Second Round is set to begin after an exciting opening phase in Belgium and the Netherlands.
The first round produced several big results, including India’s 5-3 victory over Pakistan, England’s strong campaign in Pool D and some unexpected results involving Germany, Belgium and other top teams.
Unlike previous editions, the 2026 Hockey World Cup does not have a traditional quarter-final stage. Instead, the top two teams from the first-round pools move into new second-round groups, with the top two teams from Pools E and F qualifying directly for the semi-finals.
How Does the Hockey World Cup 2026 Second Round Work?
The new format is one of the biggest changes in this year’s tournament.
The top two teams from:
- Pool A + Pool D → Pool E
- Pool B + Pool C → Pool F
The third- and fourth-placed teams move into Pools G and H for classification matches.
Each team then plays two additional matches against opponents they did not face in the first phase. The result against the other team that came from the same original pool is carried forward.
That means every point and goal can become extremely important.
Hockey World Cup 2026 Second Round Standings
Based on the completed first-round results, the second-round groups are shaping up as follows:
Pool E
| Team | From Pool | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | A | Qualified |
| Argentina | A | Qualified |
| England | D | Qualified |
| India | D | Qualified |
India finished second in Pool D after beating Pakistan 5-3, while England topped the group. The Netherlands and Argentina qualified from Pool A.
Pool F
| Team | From Pool | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | C | Qualified |
| Ireland | C | Qualified |
| Belgium | B | Qualified |
| Germany | B | Qualified |
Belgium and Germany came through Pool B, while Australia and Ireland progressed from Pool C.
Note: The second-round table will develop as the crossover matches are played, so the exact points and goal difference will change during August 21-24.
India Enter Second Round After Beating Pakistan
India enter the second phase with plenty of confidence after beating Pakistan 5-3 in their final Pool D match.
Harmanpreet Singh and Abhishek scored twice each, while Hardik Singh also got on the scoresheet.
The victory helped India finish second in Pool D and secure a place in Pool E. Pakistan, meanwhile, were eliminated from contention for the title.
India’s next phase will be much harder.
They will now face teams from Pool A, including Netherlands and Argentina, while the result against England is carried forward under the competition format.
FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Second Round Schedule
The second-round matches begin on August 21.
Pool F
August 21
- 1st Pool C vs 2nd Pool B
August 22
- 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool C
August 23
- 1st Pool B vs 1st Pool C
August 24
- 2nd Pool B vs 2nd Pool C
Pool E
August 22
- 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool D
- 1st Pool D vs 2nd Pool A
August 24
- 2nd Pool A vs 2nd Pool D
- 1st Pool A vs 1st Pool D
The top two teams from Pools E and F will qualify for the semi-finals.
Which Teams Look Strongest?
The second round has created some fascinating matchups, but a few teams appear particularly dangerous.
Netherlands
The Netherlands remain one of the biggest favourites.
They dominated Japan and defeated Argentina in the first phase, showing why they are among the teams expected to challenge for the title.
Their position becomes even stronger because they are entering the second round from the top of Pool A.
England
England also look very dangerous.
They defeated Pakistan 4-1 and then produced an 8-2 win over Wales before finishing top of Pool D.
That 8-2 result is one of the clearest signs that England are in excellent attacking form.
India
India are another major contender.
They did lose 4-2 to England in the first phase, but they responded with a convincing 5-3 victory over Pakistan.
The major question is whether India can perform against the strongest teams in Pool E.
Australia
Australia also remain dangerous after winning their Pool C campaign.
They defeated Spain 1-0 and have the quality to challenge for the semi-finals.
Which Teams Are Under Pressure?
Some teams enter the second round in a much more difficult position.
India
India’s defeat to England means they cannot afford another poor performance.
Their route to the semi-finals now goes through a very strong Pool E.
Germany
Germany survived a difficult Pool B campaign and will now face much stronger opposition.
Their first-round defeat to Belgium and draw with France show that they have not been completely convincing.
Argentina
Argentina qualified from Pool A, but their 3-1 defeat against the Netherlands showed the gap between them and the tournament favourites.
Ireland
Ireland’s 4-1 victory over South Africa was impressive, but the second round will provide a much tougher examination.
First Round Controversies and Talking Points
The first phase did not produce one massive controversy dominating the entire tournament, but there were several major talking points.
India vs Pakistan 5-3
The biggest story for Asian hockey fans was India’s 5-3 victory over Pakistan.
The match had huge rivalry value, and Pakistan’s defeat ended their World Cup title campaign.
New World Cup Format
The biggest tournament-wide talking point has actually been the new format.
The traditional quarter-finals have been removed, meaning teams now have to fight through another group stage before reaching the semi-finals.
This has made the competition more complicated for fans but potentially more exciting because teams get additional matches before the knockout stage.
England’s Huge Win
England’s 8-2 victory over Wales was another major first-round talking point.
It showed that England’s attack is capable of producing big scores and confirmed their position at the top of Pool D.
Belgium’s Unexpected Defeat
Host nation Belgium also experienced an early shock when Germany defeated them 1-0 in Pool B. Belgium recovered with a 5-3 victory over Malaysia, but the result showed that the hosts are not unbeatable.
Can India Reach the Semi-Finals?
Yes, but it will not be easy.
India have entered one of the toughest second-round groups alongside Netherlands, Argentina and England.
The top two teams from Pool E will reach the semi-finals, meaning India probably need consistent results against the European and South American opposition.
The good news for India is that they already know how to respond after a setback. Their defeat against England was followed by a strong performance against Pakistan.
Now comes the bigger test.
When Are the Hockey World Cup 2026 Semi-Finals and Final?
The men’s semi-finals are scheduled for August 28, while the bronze-medal match and final will take place on August 30 in Belgium.
The winners of the two semi-finals will compete for the World Cup title.
Final Verdict
The FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 Second Round could be even more competitive than the opening phase.
India, Netherlands, England and Argentina will battle for the top two positions in Pool E, while Belgium, Germany, Australia and Ireland will fight for the semi-final places in Pool F.
For India, the 5-3 win over Pakistan has provided momentum, but the real test begins now.
With no quarter-finals in the new format, there is very little room for mistakes. One poor result could make the difference between reaching the semi-finals and fighting for a lower classification position.
