Hosts India and Japan reached the Final of the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026, where India thrashed South Korea by 8-1 after two-time runners-up Japan beat Malaysia in a penalty shootout.
The first Semifinal, Japan vs Malaysia, ended in a goalless draw. In the penalty shootout, Japan defeated their opponents by 5-3 to reach the Asian Champions Trophy Final for the third time. Earlier, they finished as runners-up in the 2013 (lost against Pakistan by 3-1) and 2021 (lost against South Korea in a penalty shootout 3[4]-3[2]) editions.
Hosts and record-holding five-time champions India, who previously thrashed South Korea by 8-0 in the last game of the league stage, once again overpowered by 8-1 in the second Semifinal. Han Sang-Jun was the only goal-scorer for South Korea in the ninth minute to equalise the scoreline, but the hosts completely dominated on the field. Shilanand Lakra (4’ and 13’) and Dilpreet Singh (21’ and 25’) scored braces, while Harmanpreet Singh (9’), Sukhjeet Singh (21’), Angad Bir Singh (36’), and Vivek Prasad (54’) scored once each.
Earlier in the day, China finished the tournament in the fifth position with their first and only win in the tournament after beating the winless Bangladesh with a 3-1 scoreline.
Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026: Knockout Stages
(Fifth Place Match)
China 3-1 Bangladesh
(1st Semifinal)
Japan 0(5)-0(3) Malaysia
(2nd Semifinal)
India 8-1 South Korea