"VAN" (Sports Desk - Amsterdam, Netherlands - 21.08.2026) :: Late goals, standout performances, hard-fought draws and a couple of surprises highlighted a dramatic final day of Pool matches at the FIH Hockey World Cup, as teams battled to keep their title hopes alive.
Belgian fans breathed a hefty sigh of relief after their women’s side held off a massive challenge from Ireland to win 2-1 and keep their title hopes alive. The Irish went ahead thanks to a Charlotte Beggs goal from a penalty corner in the 13th minute. And while the Belgians dominated in all departments, they simply couldn’t find the back of the net. Needing just a draw to progress, the all-important goal finally came in the 49th minute with an impressive strike from Charlotte Englebert into the bottom left corner. Ambre Ballenghien added a second with just 43 seconds remaining, taking her side to the top of Pool C.
In other Pool C action, a hat-trick from Patricia Alvarez ensured Spain’s passage into the next round as one of the top two teams after a 3-0 victory over New Zealand. The Spanish dominated the first half without finding a way past the Kiwi defence, but finally broke the deadlock in the 40th minute when Alvarez squeezed her effort from open play under the goalkeeper. Play was briefly suspended as heavy rain swept through Wavre, but Spain resumed control when the players returned to the pitch. Alvarez lifted her second into the net in the 55th minute before completing her hat-trick in the final minute with a tap-in to an empty goal after New Zealand had removed their goalkeeper.
Alvarez was understandably named Player of the Match and said afterwards: “I'm very happy, I'm very proud of the team, the staff, the 20 players at the tournament. I'm very happy and I'm very ready for the next round.”
Meanwhile, India held England to a goalless draw to secure their passage to the next round as the second-ranked team in Pool D, having needed only a point while England required victory to progress. Both sides created chances in the first half, but England applied increasing pressure after the break and earned 12 penalty corners across the match without finding a way through the Indian defence. Indian goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam produced a crucial glove save in the final minute to deny Tessa Howard and preserve the point India needed.
China had earlier climbed to the top of Pool D with a convincing 5-1 victory over South Africa. Meirong Zou opened the scoring before Paris-Gail Isaacs slapped in the equaliser from a South African penalty corner – just her second international goal. But China quickly regained control through Jiaqi Zhong and Anhui Yu, who both converted penalty corners. Yi Chen added a fourth from open play early in the final quarter before Zou completed her brace with just over two minutes remaining to seal a comfortable win.
In the men’s tournament, a hat-trick from Tomas Domene led the way for Argentina as they came back from a goal down to beat New Zealand 7-1 in a match in which they needed just one point to progress to the next round as one of the top two teams in Pool A. Kane Russell put New Zealand ahead from a penalty stroke in the 13th minute, but Domene levelled, also from the spot, to keep the teams level at half-time. The Argentinians took a firm grip on the game in the third quarter, though, with Bautista Capurro putting Argentina ahead before Domene added his second from a penalty corner, with Tadeo Marcucci and Nicolas Keenan then extending their lead. Capurro struck again late, tapping into an empty goal after the Black Sticks took off their keeper before Domene completed his hat-trick in the final minute to cap a dominant victory.
Domene was named Player of the Match and said afterwards: “I think this was our first objective, to play the second round. We needed a win, and today we showed what we can do as a team. So, happy for the goals, happy for the team, and I think from now is the... start of our tournament.”
Japan held the Netherlands for much of their match, but the Dutch eventually rallied to win 4-1 and finish top of Pool A. The Japanese stunned the Amsterdam crowd by taking an eighth-minute lead, thanks to Kazumasa Matsumoto. But it took the Dutch just four minutes to respond, Thijs van Dam slotting in the equaliser. Japan held firm to keep the scores level at half-time and continued to frustrate the Dutch into the second half. But with 10 minutes remaining Jip Janssen converted a penalty stroke to put the Netherlands ahead. Tijmen Reyenga then struck from successive penalty corners in the final five minutes to make absolutely sure of the result.
Spain kept their World Cup campaign alive with a 3-1 victory over Ireland, who knew a draw would be enough to take them through while Spain needed all three points. Nicolas Alvarez bundled home a scrappy opener in the ninth minute, but Ireland responded strongly after the quarter break and Lee Cole levelled from a penalty stroke. Spain then regained control in the third quarter when Marc Reyne volleyed home after an initial save from a penalty corner, before producing a beautiful strike over the goalkeeper’s shoulder to complete his brace and secure Spain’s spot in second place behind Australia in Pool C.
Earlier in the day, South Africa’s men held former world champions Australia to a thrilling 2-2 draw. Mustapha Cassiem gave the African champions the perfect start with an early penalty-corner goal – and a lead they held until half-time. But Australia fought back through Joel Rintala and Ky Willott to take a 2-1 lead in the third quarter. Cassiem struck again from a penalty corner in the 44th minute as South Africa held on for a precious point. While it had little impact on the final Pool C standings, which the Kookaburras topped after their previous two wins, it was a landmark result for the South Africans – their first draw against Australia since the 1996 Olympic Games.
The top two teams from each Pool now go through to the Second Stage, forming new Pools E and F and remaining in contention for the title. The bottom two teams from each Pool go through to the Classification Stage for positions 9-16, forming new Pools G and H. Each country plays two more matches, against the two countries in their new Pool. Results achieved against a country already played in the first group stage carry through toward the final ranking in the new Pool.
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