Defending champions the Netherlands became the first team to confirm their place in the semi-finals of the FIH Hockey World Cup with victory over India’s women as the Second Stage of matches got underway across Wavre and Amsterdam on Friday.
The Netherlands were dominant in their 2-0 win, but they struggled to find the net with their usual regularity against tremendous Indian defence led by goalkeeper Savita. The Dutch stormed into the lead with an early Yibbi Jansen drag flick and then applied huge pressure on the Indian circle for long periods of the first half. The Indians weathered the storm well, also creating some promising opportunities of their own, and they trailed by just one goal after 30 minutes. The second half followed the pattern of the first, and Frederika Matla’s 38th-minute drag flick doubled the Dutch lead. There was plenty of exciting action, but no further goals as India simply refused to concede.
Earlier in the day, Australia and China shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw after an evenly contested opening half ended goalless. China took the lead in the 39th minute when Zhang Ying converted from a penalty corner, but Australia responded nine minutes later when they were awarded a penalty stroke. The Chinese switched keepers, with Liu Ping coming on to face the stroke, but it made little difference as Abigail Wilson fired the ball through her legs to secure the equaliser. The Hockeyroos had the better attacking statistics, making 22 circle entries compared to China’s 10 and registering 12 shots on goal to China’s six, but couldn’t make it count. A chance off a penalty corner in the final minute of the match also went unconverted.
Australia’s Player of the Match, Amy Lawton, said afterwards: “Tough battle. We always have a close game against them, but we expect more from ourselves. We could have got a result in the end, but we'll take it. It’s good points for us and we can still get through to the semis with that result, so that's good.”
Meanwhile, hosts Belgium’s hopes of reaching the men’s semi-finals were dealt a serious blow after being held to a 1-1 draw by Australia, with the Belgians failing to take advantage of their 14-to-1 penalty corner advantage. An incredible low-stick save off a penalty corner by Belgian goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch kept the opening quarter goalless, but Tom Sharpe slapped home from open play in the 24th minute to give the Kookaburras the lead. Belgium finished the half with a flurry of penalty corners but trailed 1-0 at the long break. An action-packed second half saw Tom Boon finally level the scores in the 38th minute, and Belgium carried all the momentum to the final quarter. They failed to capitalise on their massive statistical advantage, though, and very nearly lost the match when Australia scored just four seconds from time only to have the goal overturned as it had come off a foot.
Earlier, Spain’s men earned three important points, coming from a goal down for a 2-1 win over Germany. The Germans dominated proceedings in the first half, and goalkeeper Luis Calzado was kept busy in the Spanish goal. He was eventually beaten by a high-quality deflection from Justus Weigand, but José Basterra responded for Spain from the penalty spot on the stroke of halftime. The momentum shifted in Spain’s favour in the third quarter and Basterra gave them the lead in the 50th minute, pouncing on a failed clearance by goalkeeper JP Danneberg as he made poor contact trying to kick the ball away. Germany had one last chance with a second left on the clock, but the long pass from outside the circle clattered into goal without the outstretched striker getting a touch.
Spain’s Marc Reyne was named the Player of the Match and said: “It’s a really important win. We know in the top pool every game is key. We fought this game like it was a final because now every game has to be like a final.”
In the first matches for the teams in the bottom half of the bracket, South Africa’s women drew 1-1 with Japan. After a goalless first half, Ntsopa Mokoena found the breakthrough for the South Africans in the 51st minute. But their inexperience cost them. Some poor marking allowed Japan to respond immediately, with Hiroka Murayama scoring just a minute later to secure the draw.
England’s women bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on a top-eight place with a 4-1 win against Chile. Paula Valdivia scored from the Chileans’ first attack of the game to go 1-0 up in the fourth minute. But England came right back at them when Lily Walker equalised from a penalty stroke just a minute later. Darcy Bourne scored two in quick succession at the end of the first half before Lottie Bingham slotted a fourth into an empty goal after Chile had pulled off their keeper late on.
The South African men claimed their first win of the tournament with a 3-1 victory over France to keep their hopes of a 9th to 12th-place finish alive. The prolific Mustapha Cassiem rocketed in two goals from penalty corners before Victor Charlet pulled one back for the French just seconds before half-time. But a defensive error after France had taken off their keeper allowed Dayaan Cassiem to run in the easiest of goals in the dying seconds to secure the win.
In the day’s other action-packed Pool H clash, which included a total of 38 shots on goal, a first-half hat-trick from Jonathan Lynch led the way for Ireland in their 7-4 victory over Malaysia. The Irish dominated in all departments at the start and raced into a 4-1 lead by half-time. Then, as they’ve done so many times at this tournament, the Malaysians kept coming back, but just couldn’t make up for the first-half deficit. The result ensured Ireland will top Pool H, meaning they’ll progress to play off for 9th to 12th place.
21 August 2026 Results
Women
Result: Match 25 (W)
Japan 1 - 1 South Africa (Pool G)
Player of the match: Stephanie Botha (RSA)
Umpires: Magali Sergeant (BEL), Sean Edwards (ENG), Jonas van’t Hek (NED-video)
Result: Match 26 (W)
England 4 - 1 Chile (Pool G)
Player of the match: Darcy Bourne (ENG)
Umpires: Ayanna McClean (TTO), Annelize Rostron (RSA), Darren Hubach (RSA-video)
Result: Match 27 (W)
China 1 - 1 Australia (Pool E)
Player of the match: Amy Lawton (AUS)
Umpires: Amber Church (NZL), Irene Presenqui (ARG), Ben Goentgen (GER-video)
Result: Match 28 (W)
Netherlands 2 – 0 India (Pool E)
Player of the match: Xan de Waard (NED)
Umpires: Alison Keogh (IRE), Laurine Delforge (BEL), Steve Rogers (AUS-video)
Men
Result: Match 25 (M)
France 1 - 3 South Africa (Pool H)
Player of the match: Calvin Davis (RSA)
Umpires: David Tomlinson (NZL), Gareth Greenfield (NZL), Victoria Pazos (PAR)
Result: Match 26 (M)
Ireland 7 - 4 Malaysia (Pool H)
Player of the match: Jonathan Lynch (IRE)
Umpires: Hong-Zhen Lim (SGP), Tyler Klenk (CAN), Wanri Venter (RSA-video)
Result: Match 27 (M)
Germany 1 - 2 Spain (Pool F)
Player of the match: Marc Reyne (ESP)
Umpires: Sarah Wilson (SCO), Dan Barstow (ENG), Kristy Robertson (AUS-video)
Result: Match 28 (M)
Australia 1 - 1 Belgium (Pool F)
Player of the match: Arthur De Sloover (BEL)
Umpires: Coen van Bunge (NED), Michiel Otten (NED), Hannah Harrison (ENG-video)
