That's a wrap for our coverage of India's campaign at the Men's Hockey World Cup 2026. A disappointing campaign for India, but they must put it behind them now and focus on the Asian Games, which begins in less than a month's time. Victory there will seal LA 2028 Olympics qualification for India.

Stay tuned to NDTV Sports for all the live and latest sports updates. Goodnight!

India finish in eighth position in the Men's Hockey World Cup 2026. Their streak of losing to every opponent ranked higher than them continues. A great defensive performance today to prevent Belgium for large portions of the game. Harmanpreet Singh showed his class, scoring two penalty corner equalisers. But in the end, India fell just short in the penalty shootout.

BELGIUM WIN! Abhishek scores to keep India alive, but then Belgium score their final penalty too! Mohith gives it his all to try and narrow the angle, but Belgium manage to score! 

Belgium finish seventh in the Men's Hockey World Cup 2026!

IND 3-3 BEL (Belgium win 4-3 in penalty shootout)

Dilpreet scores for India, but then the Indian goalkeeper Mohith commits a foul while trying to stop Belgium's attacker. Belgium are awarded a penalty stroke; Hendrickx steps up and scores!

One shot left each, India must score and then save!

IND 2-3 BEL

Shilanand scores India's first penalty goal of the shootout! Does well to get round Vanasch and create an opening to score. However, Belgium manage to score too!

IND 1-2 BEL

Sukhjeet Singh misses too! But India are still in it, because they manage to prevent Belgium from scoring their second penalty. 

IND 0-1 BEL

Harmanpreet Singh misses! India's first penalty is saved by Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch! Belgium then score their first one to lead 1-0!

IND 0-1 BEL

FULL TIME! We are heading to a penalty shootout to decide the winner of the seventh-place match between India and Belgium! What a dramatic game we've had in Wavre.

FT | IND 3-3 BEL

GOOOOAAAALLLLL! Simply stunning! India draw level with 20 seconds left on the clock! Harmanpreet Singh converts from the penalty corner. What an ending!

This match is going to a penalty shootout!

Q4 15' IND 3-3 BEL

India are probing but not being able to create the decisive action that could result in a goal. Two minutes left in the final quarter for India to find an equaliser.

Q4 14' IND 2-3 BEL

GOOOAAAALLLL! Belgium take the lead for the second time! An initial shot hits an Indian defender, and then the rebound falls kindly for Nicolas de Kerpel, who slots it into the net. Is that going to be the winning goal?

Q4 2' IND 2-3 BEL

Oh dear! Manpreet Singh suffers a hit to his face, just above his right eye. He is guided off the field by the medical team; he is bleeding right across his face. Let's hope he gets well quickly.

Q4 2' IND 2-2 BEL

The fourth and final quarter of the seventh-place match between India and Belgium is underway in Wavre! Will we see a winning goal, or will this game be decided by a shootout?

Q4 1' IND 2-2 BEL

The third quarter comes to an end. India have done well to draw level in the match. 15 minutes to go; if the scores stay tied after that, we'll have a penalty shootout!

End of Q3 | IND 2-2 BEL

Another goal by the hosts has been disallowed! They score from the penalty corner, but it is ruled out due to danger, as the ball looked to have struck Indian defender Amit Rohidas on the knee. 

Q3 4' IND 2-2 BEL

How has Suraj Karkera denied that? A firm shot by Belgium, but the Indian goalkeeper somehow manages to get both feet on either side of the ball and prevent the goal chance.

Q3 3' IND 2-2 BEL

GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL! India draw level! It is captain Harmanpreet Singh with a signature drag-flick from the penalty corner! 

Belgium take a referral, but after a long check, India's goal stands! Game on.

Q3 1' IND 2-2 BEL

We are back! The third quarter is underway, and India have won an early penalty corner! Good chance for India to try and level things up.

Q3 1' IND 1-2 BEL

HALF TIME! Belgium have overturned their deficit and taken the lead against India, heading into half-time with a 2-1 lead. The hosts have dominated this match, but the margin of one goal keeps India firmly in the contest.

HT | IND 1-2 BEL

GOOOAAAALLLL! Belgium take the lead! Two goals in one minute for the hosts, and they've overturned the deficit in no time. This time, it's a powerful drag-flick from a penalty corner from Hugo Labouchere. 

Q2 8' IND 1-2 BEL

GOOOAAALLL! Belgium draw level! Finally, the hosts manage to score their first goal of the day. They have dominated the match and finally broken the deadlock. It's Roman Duvekot with the goal!

Q2 7' IND 1-1 BEL

The second quarter is underway! Almost immediately, Belgium come on the attack and they put the ball into the net, but the goal has been ruled out by the umpire! Looks to have been the height of the pass that caused the issue, possibly being ruled as danger.

Q2 1' IND 1-0 BEL

The hooter goes, the first quarter comes to an end in Wavre. India took the lead against the run of play, and have somehow survived a wave of Belgian attacks. They'll need to improve to hold on to this lead.

End of Q1 | IND 1-0 BEL

Constant attacks, shots on goal, penalty corners: Belgium have done everything but put the ball in the back of th net. Another brilliant move and shot somehow ends up going wide.

Q1 14' IND 1-0 BEL

Dramatic scenes in Wavre, as it seems like there may have been 12 Indian players on the field for a while. India captain Harmanpreet Singh is shown a yellow card, and he'll have to be on the bench for five minutes!

Q1 11' IND 1-0 BEL

Jugraj Singh with a brilliant defensive tackle to deny Belgium. The hosts are coming on the attack every minute, but an attempt to turn and shoot is well read by Jugraj.

Moments later, a great move by Belgium but India's goalkeeper makes a superb save!

Q1 10' IND 1-0 BEL

GOOOOAAAALLLL! India take the lead! Abhishek Nain with the goal. Somewhat against the run of play, India have taken the lead against co-hosts Belgium. Manpreet finds Abhishek on the left of the D, and his shot is so powerful that the ball sneaks in despite hitting the goalkeeper.

Q1 5' IND 1-0 BEL

WE ARE LIVE! The seventh-place classification match between India and Belgium is underway in Wavre. Here we go!

Q1 1' IND 0-0 BEL

The teams are here for the national anthems. Belgium have a recent edge over India, having beaten them 4-2 and 3-1 in the Pro League in Rourkela in February.

Belgium have strong firepower in the forward-line with Tom Boon, who scored 19 goals in the Pro League this season, already netting five times in the World Cup. They also have PC specialist Alexander Hendrickx, who scored 15 goals in the Pro League.

Against co-hosts Belgium, India need to maintain their defensive shape even more. The match against Argentina exposed India's frailties. Experienced midfielders Manpreet Singh and Hardik Singh will also have to take greater responsibility in controlling the game and creating chances.

Here's India's starting XI for the seventh-place match against Belgium:

Your Starting XI is here.

The Indian Men's Team names its Starting XI for the last game of the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, as they take on tournament co-hosts Belgium in the 7th/8th place clash.

Let's back the boys all the way! #HockeyIndia... pic.twitter.com/Bg6hK2ZRAV

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 28, 2026

The bronze medalists from the 2020 and 2024 Olympics began their Hockey World Cup campaign with a lot of promise, outclassing Wales in their opening group game. However, since then, apart from a win over Pakistan, India have lost every single match.

In fact, India have not beaten a single team in this World Cup that is ranked above them in the FIH Outdoor Hockey Rankings. Will they be able to end that curse today?

A very welcome to one and all, to the live coverage of India's final match of the Men's Hockey World Cup 2026. Today, India take on co-hosts Belgium in the seventh-place match in Wavre. 

Stay tuned to NDTV Sports for all the live updates from the game!