Unbeaten India take on South Korea in the semi-final of the Hero Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026 tonight, November 4, at 7 PM IST in Mohali. Harmanpreet Singh's side won all five league matches and thrashed the same Korean team 8-0 just two days ago, but coach Craig Fulton has warned that knockout hockey is a different game altogether.
A win would put India into the final on November 6, where they will meet the winner of the first semi-final between Japan and Malaysia.
India's perfect league campaign
India topped the six-team table with the maximum 15 points, scoring 34 goals and conceding only five. The campaign started with a 13-0 demolition of Bangladesh, followed by wins over Japan (4-1), China (5-2) and Malaysia, before the 8-0 rout of Korea in the final league game.
That last match, played at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar on November 2, was close to flawless. Dilpreet Singh scored twice (8th and 40th minutes), while Jugraj Singh (11'), Harmanpreet Singh (15'), Shilanand Lakra (33'), Sukhjeet Singh (34'), Sanjay (36') and Angad Bir Singh (60') also found the net. Sanjay was named Player of the Match.
India vs South Korea semi-final: match details
| Match | Semi-final 2: India vs South Korea |
| Date | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium, Mohali |
| Semi-final 1 | Japan vs Malaysia, 4:30 PM IST |
| 5th-6th place match | China vs Bangladesh, 2:00 PM IST |
| Final | November 6, 2026 |
| TV | Star Sports 2 |
| Live streaming | JioHotstar |
Final league standings – top three
- India – 15 points (5 wins from 5)
- Japan – 10 points (beat Malaysia 2-1 on the final day)
- Malaysia – 9 points
South Korea finished fourth to set up a rematch with India, while China and Bangladesh will play for fifth place. Japan, the only other side to win more than half their league games, will fancy their chances against Malaysia after edging them 2-1 on the final day of the group stage.
Harmanpreet leads the scoring charts
Captain Harmanpreet Singh has been India's biggest weapon, especially from penalty corners. He leads the tournament scoring list with nine goals, including a hat-trick against Malaysia. Sukhjeet Singh and Dilpreet Singh have four goals each, while Abhishek and Jugraj Singh have three apiece.
The one worry for India is Abhishek's fitness. The forward missed the Korea game because of an injury, and his availability for the semi-final will be watched closely. Even without him, India's forward line looked sharp in Jalandhar, with goals coming from all areas of the pitch.
Fulton: "We need a good start"
Chief coach Craig Fulton has been careful not to read too much into the 8-0 scoreline. Knockout matches carry a different kind of pressure, and Korea are known for their counter-attacking speed and fitness. "The pressure will be different. We need a good start, that's going to be the key," Fulton said ahead of the semi-final.
Sanjay, the hero of the league win, made a request to the home fans. "We wanted to top the table and we did that," he said, adding that he wanted the crowd to support the team the same way in Mohali.
What it means for Indian hockey
India are the defending champions of the Asian Champions Trophy, having beaten China 1-0 in the 2024 final, and are aiming to extend their dominance in Asia. Playing at home in Punjab – the traditional heartland of Indian hockey – has given the team huge crowd support, and stadium entry is free for fans who register on the Ticketgenie website or app.
A title win would also give Fulton's side valuable confidence as they build towards the big international events on the calendar, with the core of the team – Harmanpreet, Jugraj, Sukhjeet and Dilpreet – in top form.
What happens next
- If India win tonight, they play the final on November 6 against Japan or Malaysia.
- If they lose, they will play the bronze-medal match against the loser of the Japan–Malaysia semi-final.
- Fans can watch the match live on Star Sports 2 and stream it on JioHotstar.
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