India vs Belgium Head-to-Head Record, Men's FIH Hockey World Cup 2026: Stats, Previous Results and Preview
Preview the India vs Belgium Men's FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Seventh place match today, August 28, 2026, at 8:30 PM IST from Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre. Explore their head-to-head record as both teams battle for a superior finish following challenging Second Round campaigns.
The Men's FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is drawing to a close, and while the ultimate prize remains out of reach for India and co-hosts Belgium, pride and a respectable finish are firmly on the line. Both hockey powerhouses will face off in the Seventh place match today, August 28, 2026, at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium, with kick-off scheduled for 5:00 PM CEST (8:30 PM IST). This fixture provides an opportunity for either side to end a somewhat disappointing campaign with a decisive victory. FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Schedule Today (August 28): Match Timings in IST, Fixtures and Venues.
The Road to the Seventh Place Match
India's journey in the tournament saw them finish second in Pool D, securing victories over Wales (3-1) and Pakistan (5-3), but falling to England (2-4). In the subsequent Second Round's Pool E, India faced tough losses against the Netherlands (1-3) and Argentina (3-5), ultimately placing fourth in their group and moving into the seventh-place playoff. Across the tournament, India has scored 14 goals while conceding 16, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities.
Belgium, playing on home turf, also finished second in their initial Pool B, defeating France (3-2) and Malaysia (5-3), with their only loss coming against Germany (0-1). Carrying this result into Pool F of the Second Round, Belgium drew both their matches against Australia (1-1) and Spain (1-1), which, combined with the carried-over loss to Germany, saw them finish fourth in Pool F, setting up this clash against India.
India vs Belgium: Head-to-Head Record
The historical rivalry between India and Belgium in the Hockey World Cup has been closely contested. In five previous World Cup meetings, India has won three times and Belgium has won twice, with no draws.
| Teams | Played | India Wins | Belgium Wins | Draws | India Goals | Belgium Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup H2H | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 8 |
Recent encounters, however, have seen Belgium gain an upper hand. In the FIH Pro League 2025-26 earlier this year, Belgium defeated India twice in Rourkela (4-2 on February 14, 2026, and 3-1 on February 11, 2026). Additionally, Belgium triumphed over India 1-0 in the final of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on November 30, 2025. PR Sreejesh Questions Indian Hockey Management After 2026 World Cup Failure.
Recent Form and Key Players
Both teams have endured inconsistent performances in this World Cup. For India, captain Harmanpreet Singh, a penalty corner specialist, along with Hardik Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, and Abhishek, will be crucial in their offensive efforts. Belgium will rely on their prolific penalty corner expert Alexander Hendrickx and Tom Boon, who has already netted five goals in this World Cup. Other influential Belgian players include Hugo Labouchere, Arthur de Sloover, and Thibeau Stockbroekx.
This classification match, despite not being a medal game, promises to be a fiercely contested battle as both India and Belgium vie for a superior finish in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 28, 2026 10:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
