Bhubaneswar: India will aim to end their FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign on a winning note when they face co-hosts Belgium in the seventh-eighth place classification match in Wavre on Friday.
India’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals ended after they finished at the bottom of Pool E in the second stage. They suffered a 1-3 defeat against the Netherlands before going down 3-5 to Argentina.
The classification fixture now provides Craig Fulton’s side an opportunity to finish the tournament strongly and regain confidence ahead of the Asian Games in Japan next month.
Belgium will also be eager to sign off their home World Cup campaign with a victory. The Red Lions finished last in Pool F after being held to 1-1 draws by Australia and Spain. With the backing of the home crowd in Wavre, they are expected to pose a stern challenge to India.
For India, restoring consistency and cohesion will be key. The team has shown attacking intent and created scoring opportunities, but will need to maintain its intensity and structure throughout the match.
India will also look to improve the transition between defence, midfield and attack. Effective ball movement from the back, better supply from midfield and sharper finishing inside the Belgian circle will be crucial.
Penalty corners are likely to remain one of India’s major weapons, with captain Harmanpreet Singh leading the charge. At the same time, the team will seek greater returns from open play and sustained pressure in the attacking third.
Belgium’s ability to exploit turnovers and attack during transitions means India will have to remain disciplined defensively and avoid conceding possession in dangerous areas. Midfield control will also be important in maintaining the team’s shape and dictating the tempo.
“It’s a great opportunity to finish the tournament as high as we can. We have unfinished business in the tournament and we would like to put in a good performance that we could be proud of,” Fulton said.
“The Belgium team has a very specific way of playing. We have played them quite a bit. They have some key players who make their structure work. So we have to be very organised and very good on the ball,” he added.
A victory would secure India seventh place at the World Cup and provide a timely confidence boost before the Asian Games. The short turnaround also gives the team an opportunity to identify and address the shortcomings exposed during the second stage of the tournament.
