Pakistan Beat India 7-4 in Polo World Cup Qualifier
Pakistan beat India 7-4 in the Polo World Cup qualifier in Abuja on Friday, taking a second straight win in the Zone E playoffs and moving within one result of a place at the 13th FIP World Polo Championship in Uruguay.
The match was played at the Guards Polo Club in the Nigerian capital. Pakistan had opened their campaign with a 10-6 win over Iran, and the win over India leaves them in the strongest position in the four-team group before the final round of matches on Sunday.
Pakistan face hosts Nigeria in their last qualifier on Sunday, November 15. The team that finishes first in Zone E takes the single place on offer at the World Championship, which runs from February 4 to 14, 2027, in Punta del Este, Uruguay.
Polo World Cup qualifier: how Pakistan got here
The qualifiers began on November 9 and run until November 16. Four teams are taking part: Pakistan, India, Iran and hosts Nigeria. All four play at the 14-goal handicap level, and the group winner alone goes through to Uruguay.
Pakistan’s path so far has been direct. They beat Iran 10-6 in their opening match, then beat India 7-4 on Friday. Two wins from two matches put them at the top of the group, but the job is not done yet. Nigeria, playing at home, stand between Pakistan and the World Championship.
ProPakistani reported the 7-4 result on Saturday, and 24NewsHD also carried the win, noting that it was Pakistan’s second consecutive victory in the playoff stage.
What the Nigeria match decides
Sunday’s match against Nigeria decides the group. A win for Pakistan would seal first place and a ticket to Punta del Este. A defeat would open the door for the hosts, so Pakistan cannot afford to treat the last match as a formality.
The format leaves no margin for a slip. Zone E covers FIP member nations across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and the Abuja playoffs are its only route to the World Championship. Only the group winner goes through.
The United States have already booked their place from Zone A after beating Mexico 6-4 at the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida, in May. Pakistan will want to join them by winning on Sunday.
Pakistan polo’s last World Cup run
Pakistan have been here before. They qualified for the 12th FIP World Polo Championship in Wellington, in the United States, in 2022, by beating India twice in Johannesburg. They won the first playoff 5-4 at the Inanda Polo Club, then won the second 7-3 at the East Rand Polo Club.
The 2022 team was led by captain Raja Sami Ullah, with Hamza Mawaz, Temur Nadeem and Raja Muhammad Mekiyal Sami, and managed by Brigadier (retired) Bader-Uz-Zaman.
That run shows the shape of the task in Abuja. Pakistan beat India twice to qualify in 2022. This time the win over India is one step, not the finish, and the decider against Nigeria is the match that matters now.
Pakistan’s strong run against India
The win over India also continues a strong run for Pakistan against their neighbours across sport. Pakistan beat India 3-0 to reach the Asian Games volleyball semi-final, and Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets to reach the Asian Games cricket final. Pakistan have also overtaken Australia to move to fourth in the ICC ODI rankings.
In hockey, the result went the other way, as India beat Pakistan 4-3 in the Asian Games semi-final. The polo win restores the balance in Pakistan’s favour.
The polo team will return home after the Nigeria match. Their progress has drawn attention back home, where Pakistan sport has been in the headlines for weeks, from Babar Azam throwing a fan’s phone away after a pitch invasion to the cricket team’s rise in the rankings. A win on Sunday would give the country another reason to celebrate.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score in the Pakistan-India polo qualifier?
Pakistan beat India 7-4 at the Guards Polo Club in Abuja on Friday, November 13.
Where are the Zone E qualifiers being played?
At the Guards Polo Club in Abuja, Nigeria, from November 9 to 16, 2026.
Who else is in Pakistan’s qualifying group?
India, Iran and hosts Nigeria. Pakistan beat Iran 10-6 in their opening match.
What does Pakistan need to qualify for the World Cup?
To finish first in Zone E. The decider is the match against hosts Nigeria on Sunday, November 15.
When and where is the World Polo Championship?
The 13th FIP World Polo Championship runs from February 4 to 14, 2027, in Punta del Este, Uruguay.
