News for 30 August 2026
All the news for Sunday 30 August 2026
FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026
Wagener Hockey Stadium (NED) - Belfius Hockey Arena (BEL)
All times GMT +2
Men
30 Aug 2026 14:00 NED v ARG (3/4) Belfius Hockey Arena
30 Aug 2026 16:30 ESP v GER (1/2) Belfius Hockey Arena
Final Pool standings
Women
29 Aug 2026 13:00 BEL v AUS (3/4) 1 - 0 Wagener Hockey Stadium
29 Aug 2026 16:00 NED v ARG (1/2) 1 - 1 (SO 1 - 2) Wagener Hockey Stadium
Final Pool standings
FIH Match Centre
Argentina dethrone Dutch in dramatic shootout to claim women’s World Cup crown
Argentina faced the toughest task in women’s hockey – taking on the three-time defending champions, the Netherlands, on their home soil in the FIH Hockey World Cup final in Amsterdam on Saturday. But they kept their composure when it mattered most, drawing 1-1 in regulation time and then edging the dominant Dutch 3-1 in a shootout to claim the world title for the first time in 16 years.
A Perth Memory Replayed in Amsterdam: The Leonas Have Done It Again
K ARUMUGAM
Some hockey rivalries are bigger than a match. They become memories, moments that stay somewhere deep inside you and return unexpectedly when history decides to repeat itself. The Dutch–Leonas rivalry is one such rivalry for me.
Argentina women hold Hockey World Cup final nerve to finally topple Netherlands
By Rod Gilmour
Brisa Bruggesser jumps for joy as Argentina close in on first Hockey World Cup since 2010 PIC: FIH/WorldsportPics
Last summer we asked whether world hockey was getting closer to stopping the Dutch women, in finals at least. That was after Germany ran the Oranje close in the EuroHockey 2025 final, a year after China came close at Paris 2024.
Argentina beats Netherlands in penalty shootout, claims its third women’s Hockey World Cup title
The Netherlands was aiming for its 10th women’s Hockey World Cup title and fourth on the trot.
Aashin Prasad
Argentina ended its 16-year wait for a women’s Hockey World Cup title on Saturday in Amstelveen. | Photo Credit: AP
On a chilly summer evening at the Wagener Stadion, Argentina’s women had their own Maracanazo moment. The Netherlands do not lose often. In the last 13 years, the Dutch have lost just one game per year while winning three successive World Cups. Here, too, on Saturday, they did not lose as Argentina found a way to strike late to hold the host to a 1-1 draw before snatching the title in the penalty shootout.
Argentina topples Oranje juggernaut to end Netherlands’ decade-long reign
The shootout loss, though, may not yet signal the demise of the Dutch dynasty. But for a sport which was wondering where the next potent challenger to the throne might come from, Argentina’s gritty resolve finally provided an answer to the question that came with the Netherlands’ enduring success.
Aashin Prasad
Despite the scoreline not in its favour and a partisan home crowd behind its back, Argentina persevered. | Photo Credit: AP
For close to a decade, this Netherlands women’s team had known nothing but success. Coming into this World Cup, it had struck gold at nine major competitions – two Olympics, two World Cups and five EuroHockey Championships.
Dutch women's hockey team lose World Cup final to Argentina after shoot-out
The Netherlands missed out on a fourth straight women’s hockey World Cup title after Argentina prevailed in a shoot-out at the Wagener Stadium on Saturday. The final was level at 1-1 after 60 minutes, but Argentina held its nerve in the shoot-out to deny the Dutch team another world championship.
Hockeyroos fall just short of World Cup bronze in hard-fought contest
The Hockeyroos have fallen agonisingly short of a World Cup medal, going down 1-0 to Belgium in a hard-fought bronze medal match to bring their FIH Hockey World Cup campaign to a close.
Player awards
JSW Rising Star: Zoe Diaz (ARG)
Best Goalkeeper: Jocelyn Bartram (AUS)
Hero Top Scorer: Yibbi Jansen (NED) - 8 goals
Best Player of the Tournament: Charlotte Englebert (BEL)
Janneke Schopman and Germany part ways after loss to India, her former team, in Women’s Hockey World Cup
Under Schopman, Germany finished runner-up at the European Championships in 2025. In the last two seasons of the FIH Pro League, the team finished seventh and fifth, respectively.
FILE PHOTO: Janneke Schopman’s Germany finished sixth at the Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026, held in the Netherlands and Belgium. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Janneke Schopman and the German Hockey Federation (DHB) have parted ways after the women’s team’s 1-3 loss to India, the Dutchwoman’s former side, in the 5th-6th place match at the Hockey World Cup.
Deepika praises Indian women’s hockey team after fifth-place finish at FIH World Cup
ANI Photo | Deepika praises Indian women’s hockey team after fifth-place finish at FIH World Cup
Indian women’s hockey player Deepika Kumari expressed pride in her team’s effort at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2026 despite finishing fifth, as the squad returned to Bengaluru on Saturday.
Legendary Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak impressed by Savita-Bichu camaraderie
Pirmin Blaak said there could be a smooth transition between Savita Punia and Bichu Devi compared to the huge gap left by PR Sreejesh in men's team.
Indian goalkeepers Bichu Devi and Savita Punia
Legendary Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak is impressed by the camaraderie between veteran Savita Punia and Bichu Devi, saying their willingness to help each other instead of rivalry could ensure a smooth transition in Indian women's goalkeeping, in contrast to the "huge gap" he sees in the men's team following the retirement of PR Sreejesh.
More success for Kiwi officials at FIH World Cup
Gareth Greenfield will Umpire the Men's final with Coen van Bunge of the Netherlands
Even more success for our Kiwi officials at the 2026 FIH World Cup, as umpire Gareth Greenfield has been appointed to the men's final as an on-field official.
From 7-0 to 5-2 — Spain vs Germany Head-to-Head Record before FIH Men’s World Cup final
Germany hasn’t defeated Spain in their last 10 encounters in FIH Pro League, with its last win dating back to 2021.
Defending champion Germany will hope to win its fourth Men’s World Cup trophy. | Photo Credit: AP
Spain will take on Germany in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup final at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Belgium on Sunday.
India's Hockey Team Leaves The World Cup With An Uncomfortable Set Of Questions
The Indian team has some serious issues to resolve before heading for another international engagement.
By Sandeep Nakai
Indian team need to work on their shortcomings. (AP Photo)
India’s World Cup campaign ended with another heartache as the shootout went Belgium’s way at the Blefius Hockey Arena in Wavre, the township half an hour away from Brussels that shared the hosting rights with Amstelveen in The Netherlands.
Harmanpreet Singh calls for improved defence after poor outing
"If we don't defend well as a team, big teams will trouble you," Harmanpreet said.
Harmanpreet Singh at the 2026 FIH World Cup (Photo credit: PTI)
India's disappointing eighth-place finish at the FIH World Cup has exposed their defensive shortcomings, with captain Harmanpreet Singh admitting that the team needs to improve significantly in that area, especially against the world's top sides.
India still miss PR Sreejesh, and the Hockey World Cup proved it
India really felt the absence of PR Sreejesh in goal during the 2026 Hockey World Cup, and it is a reality they will need to accept. But if India are to move forward, they will need to develop new talent rather than simply look for the next Sreejesh.
Alan Jose John
PR Sreejesh's absence exposes India's goalkeeping gap at Hockey World Cup (PTI Photo)
When the Indian men's team's Hockey World Cup 7th-8th place playoff against Belgium went into a penalty shootout, there wasn't that familiar sense of comfort around the side. Yes, India had clawed their way back into the contest, and some could argue that momentum was finally on their side.
A dominant performance in 9th playoff match by the Men
The Vantage Black Sticks Men have finished the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup in ninth place after a commanding 6-3 victory over Ireland in their final match in Wavre.
Nic Woods celebrates 200 International matches with a surprise
A remarkable international career reaches another milestone as Nic Woods becomes the latest Vantage Black Stick to reach 200 caps.
Black Sticks campaigns end in disappointment at World Cup
New Zealand’s men finished ninth at the World Cup. Photo: Bart Scheulderman / WORLDSPORTPICS
New Zealand's national hockey teams have finished their World Cup campaigns well below their target placements.
Rana to the rescue
Ijaz Chaudhry
Rana Ehsanullah today
As anticipated, Pakistan couldn’t make it to the last-eight round at the 2026 Hockey World Cup (Aug 15-30) held in Wavre, Belgium and Amsterdam, Netherlands. In such dire times, the mind goes back to the days when the record four-time world champions ruled the sport.
Pakistan regain 12th ranking
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan regained No 12th spot on the FIH Hockey ranking following their win against South Africa in 11th position match.
2026 Test Matches ITA v MLT (m)
Rome, Italy
All times GMT+2
29 Aug 2026 17:00 ITA v MLT 14 - 0
30 Aug 2026 11:00 ITA v MLT
FIH Match Centre
Beyond the turfs: Why Holland is hockey’s home
Tayyab Ikram explains what Pakistan should learn
Asher Butt
There is a particular photograph that hangs behind Tayyab Ikram in his office in Lausanne - or in this case, taped to a white cupboard in a temporary media centre in Amstelveen. It shows a women’s team lifting a trophy, CHAMPIONS, FIH Pro League 2023-24. It is a reminder of where hockey has reached. And for Pakistan, a reminder of where it once was.
Teenager Dheeressh makes cut for Malaysia squad at Junior Asia Cup
G. Dheeressh is the youngest player in the Malaysia squad for the Under-21 Asia Cup in Moqi, China.
KUALA LUMPUR: At just 17 years old, Dheeressh Gunaseelan has achieved another significant milestone in his young hockey career after being named in the Malaysian junior men's hockey team for the Under-21 Asia Cup in Moqi, China.
NCAA Division I results - 29 August 2026
NCAA Division I fixtures - 30 August 2026