India, led by Harmanpreet Singh, faces Argentina on Monday in their final Group E match at the 2026 Hockey World Cup. The Indian side sits at the bottom of Pool E and needs more than a win to reach the semifinals.
In the first two pool matches, India lost 1-3 to the Netherlands and 2-4 to England, leaving them with no points. To finish in the top two, India must beat Argentina and rely on the outcome of the Netherlands-England match to favor their progression.
Argentina, coached by Craig Fulton, is known for its solid defense and high pressing, while India relies on speed, skill and attack. In the eight World Cup meetings, Argentina has won five times and India three, with 19 goals for Argentina and 14 for India.
The first encounter was in 1971, when India won 1-0. The most recent was in 2010, when Argentina defeated 4-2 in the 7th-8th place playoff. Historical results include: 1971 India 1-0 Argentina; 1975 Argentina 2-1 India; 1978 India 3-2 Argentina; 1990 Argentina 5-3 India; 1990 Argentina 1-0 India; 1994 India 2-2 Argentina (penalties 4-2 India); 2006 Argentina 3-2 India; 2010 Argentina 4-2 India.
With the aim of advancing, India must use its experience in high-pressure matches and seek an advantage in speed play. The upcoming match will be decisive in determining whether the Indian team can overcome the group-stage barrier and move on to the World Cup quarter-finals. For coverage updates, Khel Now provides updates on its social media channels.
