India's men and women hockey teams both exit World Cups in Netherlands

The Indian men's national hockey team collapsed in a 5-3 defeat to Argentina on Monday, August 24, 2026, while the women's team was eliminated following a 0-0 draw against Australia on Sunday. Both campaigns ended in Amstelveen, Netherlands, leaving India without a presence in the semi-finals of either tournament.

Despite securing bronze medals in the last two Olympic editions in Tokyo and Paris, the men's team continues to struggle at the World Cup, where they have not reached a semi-final or stood on the podium in 51 years.

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For the men, the match at Wagener Stadium began with a defensive failure that Times News described as "shambolic." India conceded two goals within the first six minutes, with Joaquin Toscani scoring in the 41st second and Nicolas della Torre converting a penalty corner at 05:53. While Sukhjeet Singh provided a lifeline in the 10th minute, Mykhel reported that India appeared "hesitant" and unable to match the pace and decisiveness of the South Americans.

Argentina's ruthlessness was evident in the second half. Tomas Domene scored in the 33rd and 45th minutes — the latter from a penalty stroke — before Lucas Toscani added a fifth in the 53rd minute. India attempted a late surge with goals from Sukhjeet Singh and Hardik Singh, but the effort was insufficient to overturn the deficit.

The loss ensures the men's 51-year drought for a World Cup title continues. India has won the tournament only once, in 1975, when Ajit Pal Singh led the team to a 2-1 victory over Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur. Since then, their peak performances were fifth-place finishes in 1982 in Mumbai and 1994 in Sydney. The 2026 campaign saw World No. 8 India lose every match played against higher-ranked opponents: the Netherlands (World No. 1), England (World No. 4), and Argentina (World No. 7).

The women's exit was defined by a defensive resilience that was not matched by offensive execution. Facing Australia on Sunday, India needed a win to secure a semi-final spot, while a draw was sufficient for the Australians. The match ended 0-0, leaving both teams with identical points and a goal difference of minus two.

Australia progressed based on a tiebreaker of total goals scored in the second round. The Hockeyroos had scored three goals compared to India's two, a narrow margin that left the Indian players in tears at the final whistle, according to Outlook India.

Throughout the match, India struggled to convert critical chances. A penalty corner before halftime saw the ball hit an Australian defender's foot, and another opening involving Lalremsiami and Navneet failed due to hesitation inside the circle. In a desperate tactical move during the final five minutes, chief coach Sjoerd Marijne removed goalkeeper Bichu Devi to add an extra outfield player. Despite this, India could not find the net.

The result contrasts sharply with the women's historic 1-0 victory over Australia in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic quarter-finals. While India remained disciplined in defense, with veteran custodian Savita and Bichu Devi making key saves, they lacked the agility and coordination seen earlier in the tournament, according to Rediff.

Comparison of World Cup Elimination Factors

Team	Primary Cause of Exit	Key Tactical Failure	Statistical Trigger
Men	5-3 loss to Argentina	Defensive fragility in opening 6 minutes	0 points in second stage
Women	0-0 draw with Australia	Offensive inability to finish chances	Goals-scored tiebreaker (2 vs 3)

Both teams now move to classification matches. The women's team, having finished third in their group, will play to determine their final ranking. The men's team has been confirmed by Hockey India to play for seventh and eighth place.

Timeline of Elimination and Classification

The men's campaign in Group E began on Saturday, April 22, with a 2-0 defeat to the host Netherlands. This followed a first-round loss to England (4-2), though India had previously recorded wins over Pakistan and Wales. By the time they faced Argentina on August 24, India had failed to secure a single point in the second stage. According to Times News, this sequence of defeats left India unable to stay alive in the race before the final group game between England and the Netherlands.

The women's path was marked by a strong group stage run that remained unbeaten until a two-goal loss to the Netherlands in the first match of the second leg. In their final Pool D match against Australia, India's struggle to maintain possession in the midfield and a series of missed passes contributed to the stalemate. Rediff noted that India also suffered injuries during the match, with midfielder Ishika hurt in the 26th minute and Lalremsiami struck on the knee in the 28th minute.

The emotional toll of these exits was evident on the pitch. While the men's team faced a stark reminder of their World Cup struggles, including a 2023 campaign in Odisha where they failed to reach the quarterfinals after a crossover loss to New Zealand, the women's team dealt with the narrowest of margins. Captain Savita Punia and Bichu Devi were seen visibly emotional as the tiebreaker determined their exit, marking the first time since 1974 that the women's team has missed a semi-final appearance.

Both squads now transition to the final phase of the tournament. While the women's team will play a classification match after finishing third in their group, Hockey India has confirmed that for the men, the next step is a match to determine seventh and eighth place.