Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin ReportIsmailia (Egypt): Following an official advisory on 3 March 2026 from the US State Department urging all US citizens to depart from nations within or close to the conflict zones in the Middle East, including Egypt, the USA Men's team, with the full support of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), has withdrawn from the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifier currently taking place in Ismailia, Egypt. The team departed Egypt earlier today. The results of the first two USA matches will stand, and remaining matches involving the USA will be cancelled. The Ismailia event progresses to the classification stage on Friday and the finals on Saturday.

Islamabad (Sports Desk): England and Pakistan both claimed decisive victories on the second day of the men’s FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in Ismailia on Monday, so securing passage through to the semi-finals.Pakistan came from behind to beat Malaysia 5-3 before England defeated hosts Egypt 3-0. That sees them currently topping their respective groups with one more round of group matches to come on Wednesday.In the other matches of the day, Japan claimed their first points of the tournament with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over the USA, while Austria and China played to a 1-1 draw.(Men’s) Pakistan 5 – 3 MalaysiaPakistan came back from a two-goal deficit to complete a hard-fought 5-3 victory over Malaysia.The Malaysians controlled large parts of the first quarter and found the breakthrough when Muhajir Abdu Rauf managed to push the ball through the keeper’s legs in the 12th minute. With just over a minute remaining, Akhimullah Anuar rocketed another one into the roof of the net from a penalty corner to double the Malaysians’ lead. Pakistan then produced the perfect response just seconds later – Waheed Rana pulling one back with a superb deflection at the other end. The Pakistanis found the equaliser within seconds of the start of the second quarter. An excellent solo run finished with Zikriya Hayat popping the ball across goal, only for it to take a fortunate deflection off a Malaysian defender and trickle in for 2-2, which is how the score remained at half-time.After a more controlled period of play from the Malaysians, Fitri Saari put his side back in front from a penalty stroke in the 40th minute. And it was then a pivotal pass from Waheed Rana that allowed Ahmad Nadeem to tuck the ball in at the far post for Pakistan's equaliser with one second left on the clock in the third quarter. Andy Jeffrynus was struck on the head by the stick of Fayyaz Hamza, who was shown a 10-minute yellow card in the 49th minute, but Pakistan took the lead for the first time in the match from a Sufyan Khan drag directly after the incident. The Malaysians pulled off their keeper with just over five and a half minutes to play, but it immediately cost them as a Pakistan counterattack saw Muhammad Ammad firing in their fifth to wrap up the comeback win.Waheed Rana was named the player of the match and said: “It was a good team effort, and I would give credit to all my team to play such a wonderful game.”(Men’s) Austria 1 – 1 ChinaBoth Austria and China struggled to find their finishing touch in an even contest that resulted in a 1-1 draw.With both sides having lost their opening matches a day earlier, caution dominated proceedings, resulting in a largely defensive contest with few clear-cut chances and little goalmouth action in the first half. The breakthrough finally came in the 27th minute when Josef Winkler fed to Moritz Frey, who controlled well and then lifted the ball into the back of the net over the keeper’s shoulder to hand Austria a 1-0 lead, which they held at the half-time break.China came back at them at the start of the third quarter with Benhai Chen firing in from a penalty corner in the 31st minute. Adrian Fink had the chance to put the Austrians back in front with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter, but, having done all the work in front of goal, he put his shot wide. With all to play for in the final quarter, neither side managed to dominate. While the Chinese probably shaded the overall scoring opportunities, with four penalty corners earned in the match compared with Austria’s two, ultimately the sides had to settle for a share of the points.Austrian captain Benjamin Kölbl was named the player of the match and said: “We did a really good job today. We tried to defend everything, but we were not dangerous enough in the circle.”(Men’s) Japan 4 – 0 USAJapan did well to bounce back from a five-goal loss at the hands of England a day earlier and claim a 4-0 victory over the USA.The Japanese made an early statement, capitalising on their first opportunity when the ball found an unmarked Kazumasa Matsumoto in space and he fired home for a 1–0 lead. Clear chances were scarce for the Americans, whose defence came under sustained pressure from a series of Japanese penalty corners. They held firm to limit the damage, but in the 23rd minute, a clever variation at another set piece ended with Koji Yamasaki applying the finishing touch to double the advantage. Five minutes later, Ryoma Ooka blasted in a ferocious strike from just inside the circle to make it 3–0, a commanding lead Japan carried into the half-time break.The USA managed to stem the tide in a far more evenly contested third quarter. But they struggled with their penalty corner execution, meaning the score remained at 3-0 heading into the final period. After a relatively subdued third quarter, the Japanese looked livelier in the fourth. Kosei Kawabe came close to adding a fourth goal, only to be denied by the post. But he would not be frustrated for long. In the 56th minute, he got his reward with a sharp first-time deflection that found the back of the net, to consolidate a comprehensive 4–0 victory.Japan’s Kazumasa Matsumoto was named player of the match and said: “I was very happy to score the first goal, and we were very happy to win today’s game.”(Men’s) Egypt 0 – 3 EnglandEngland controlled proceedings well as they posted a hard-fought 3-0 win over hosts Egypt.The English dominated the stats throughout, enjoying long periods of possession and plenty of territorial advantage. Goalkeeper Mohamed Gamal made a series of excellent saves in the Egyptian goal as he led a defensive masterclass under continuous pressure. England survived a couple of dangerous penalty corners before Sam Ward fired them ahead in the 27th minute, his drag flick deflecting off the first wave runner to beat the defence. Nick Bandurak made it 2-0 to England with a sizzling drag flick placed mere millimetres inside the left post.The English continued to boss the third quarter, but there wasn’t much space to move with Egypt adopting a heavily defensive position to see off the 10-minute yellow card received late in the second quarter. Gamal remained vigorous in the defence of his goal throughout the second half before Tom Sorsby finally put the result beyond any doubt in the 57th minute, cleaning up the scraps after the post-man saved the first shot from a penalty corner.England’s Nick Bandurak was named as the player of the match and said: “We really had to work hard in that final third. They got numbers behind the ball, defended well, and they made life really tough. Every shot we had we felt was contested, so credit to them and the way they approached the game, and thankfully we got over the line in the end.”

Islamabad (Sports News):There were no major surprises on the opening day of the men’s FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in Ismailia, Egypt as Malaysia, Pakistan, England and Egypt all racked up important wins.The hosts were pushed all the way by the United States, and Pakistan edged out the Chinese in a fixture that has been evenly contested in recent years. Malaysia and England powered through their matches.(Men’s) Malaysia 6 – 1 AustriaMalaysia had too much pace and energy for Austria as they stormed to a 6-1 win.The Austrians had a promising start when Fülöp Losonci fired them ahead from the penalty spot in the 3rd minute. Malaysia grew into the game though, and by the start of the second quarter, they were in full control, pressing aggressively and looking dangerous around the Austrian circle. They squandered several penalty corners before striking twice in the 24th minute. Azrai Abu Kamal got ahead of his marker to complete a clinical deflection in front of goal, and Shello Silverius’s strike trickled across the line after taking two touches off defenders. Malaysia missed a penalty stroke just before half-time and went in leading 2-1.It was all Malaysia in the second half. Norsyafiq Sumantri got the final touch from a scrappy penalty corner in the 34th, and Kamal tapped in to complete his brace after Akhimullah Anuar eliminated the keeper with an unselfish pass. Anuar pounced on a loose ball at the back post for his goal, and Marhan Jalil slapped in a recycled penalty corner to complete the scoring in the 52nd minute.Faizal Saari was named player of the match for Malaysia and said: “Credit to the boys, we collected the 3 points today… It doesn’t matter if we are down one or two-zero, we just play a normal game, and we come back from 1-0 to 6-1.”(Men’s) Pakistan 5 – 4 ChinaPakistan opened their campaign with a hard-fought 5-4 win over China after threatening to run away with the result at the halfway mark.Pakistan created better opportunities in a high-paced opening quarter and Sufyan Khan fired them ahead in the 8th minute, beating the keeper for pure pace with a drag flick. China hit back in the 16th minute, Shihao Du’s drag flick deflecting horribly off the first wave. Ali Raza then made a good double save for Pakistan before his team got upfield to score two quick goals. First, Waheed Rana worked hard across the circle and pounced on a loose ball for a neat finish in the 20th minute. Muhammad Ammad tapped in a minute later after some brilliant aerial skills from Ahmad Nadeem along the baseline, and Pakistan led 3-1 at the break.Pakistan seemed to be cruising to victory when Abu Mahmood nailed a huge drag flick in the 35th minute to go 4-1 up. But China raised their energy to assert some control. They struck twice in quick succession, Du completing his brace with a sizzling drag flick in the 39th, and Quyang Guan adding a penalty corner variation in the 42nd minute. Waleed Rana edged Pakistan two ahead within a minute, but Xiaojia Zhang’s pass across goal deflected in off a defender in the 49th minute to set up a tense finale. Pakistan came closest to scoring when they rattled the crossbar from a PC with two minutes remaining, and they held on for the three points.The player of the match was awarded to Pakistan’s Ammad Butt who said: “I’m very disappointed in the way we played. The first two quarters, very good, but after that, third and fourth, we had some patches. We have to improve in our midfield, and our attack and PC short corner defence as well. By the way, I’m really happy because of the three points.”(Men’s) England 5 – 0 JapanEngland scored five high-quality goals as they cruised to a 5-0 win over Japan.It took the English some time to settle down, but two goals from acute angles towards the end of the first quarter saw them on their way. Thomas Sorsby’s opener was a sensational slap into the top corner from an acute angle. Sam Ward went even tighter, using his physical strength to drive along the baseline before slapping in with no angle to work with. Henry Croft added a tomahawk in the 17th minute, carrying the ball well into the circle after some quick passing from a free hit. Other than a couple of turnovers late in the half, England were in full control as they led 3-0 at half-time.Sorsby’s second goal came from a piece of individual brilliance as he carried the ball into the circle and tomahawked it in at the back post in the 36th minute. Croft added an excellent deflection from Jacob Payton’s feed off the baseline in the 44th, and England went on to manage the game through to the final whistle. Japan did create some clear chances and earned a couple of penalty corners, but they couldn’t execute in the circle when it mattered.England’s Thomas Sorsby was named the player of the match and said: “Japan are a very good team. We knew we had to prepare well, so a very professional start from us, really enjoyed the game, and hopefully some more of that to come.”(Men’s) Egypt 3 – 1 United StatesHosts Egypt were made to work extremely hard as they came from behind to post a 3-1 win over the United States.An action-packed first quarter saw the USA take the lead in the 6th minute, Aki Kaeppeler launching his drag flick into the top right corner. Ahmed Elganaini equalised with a penalty stroke in the 10th after the post-man was struck on the line defending a penalty corner. Goalkeeper Jonathan Klages then came off his line twice to shut Egypt out as they gained momentum before Hamada Atef eventually fired them ahead with a huge drag flick in the 22nd minute. Mohamed Gamal raced off his line to block a shot and Egypt held a slender 2-1 lead at half-time. Gamal pulled off a series of exceptional saves as the USA bossed a goalless third quarter. The Americans thought they had levelled matters in the 46th minute, but the goal was overturned and a 10-minute yellow card issued on the umpire’s review for a collision with a defender in the build-up. Egypt initially struggled to make their numerical advantage count, but Ahmed Mohsen tapped in from an exquisite feed in the 52nd minute to double their lead. The USA applied plenty of pressure towards the end of the match, but they couldn’t find another goal.Ahmed Elganaini of Egypt was named as the player of the match and said: “So proud for my team. We all played very well today, and USA played very well… it was a tough game.”

Lausanne (PR): With the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers on the cusp of getting underway – with pushback in Ismailia, Egypt and Santiago, Chile, starting tomorrow (1 March), followed by action beginning in Hyderabad, India from next Sunday (8 March) – here’s what the Captains of the participating teams have to say:Women's TeamsSwitzerland - Stephanie Weber, Captain"The preparation period was short but efficient. With Australia, France, and Chile in our pool, we enter the competition as challengers with nothing to lose. We strongly believe we can steal points and win games."Korea - Yuri Lee, Captain"As we have prepared tirelessly to secure our place in the World Cup, I am confident that we can achieve strong results in the upcoming qualifiers.The fitness, teamwork, and trust we have built throughout our training will be our greatest strengths on the field. I believe it is most important to show the unity and resilience we have developed together.We will focus on each match, one game at a time, and as every player is striving toward the same goal, we will fight until the very end without giving up. By giving our absolute best in every moment, we aim to achieve the results we have been working so hard for."France - Emma Ponthieu, Captain“The team is ready and motivated for this tournament despite being in a fairly tough group. Securing qualification would be the culmination of many years of hard work, and we will give everything to achieve it.”Austria - Johanna Czech, Captain“Our preparation is short but intense, and we feel ready for the challenge ahead. We’re going into the tournament as underdogs, but we want to compete with confidence, give everything on the pitch, and make the most of this opportunity.”Italy – Federica Carta, Captain“This tournament is a great opportunity for us and we have great motivation to achieve the goal.”Scotland - Sarah Robertson, Captain“We are looking forward to seeing what we can achieve in India. We’ve been building for a number of years now and the squad is prepared for the challenge ahead.” Chile - Manuela Urroz, Captain“As the most experienced member of the team, it’s my responsibility to lead by example. I want to share my experience and contribute in any way I can after everything I’ve gone through over the years.Each of us plays a very important role on the team, and that’s something we’ve been working on for a long time with the coaching staff. It’s a tough group, but it’s also a great opportunity to secure qualification while playing at home and in front of our fans". England - Lily Walker, Captain“We are looking forward to the qualifiers in Hyderabad and hopefully qualifying for the World Cup in the summer. We have had a good preparation for the tournament and can’t wait to get started.”India - Salima Tete, Captain“As we approach the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers Hyderabad, Telangana 2026, the entire team has been training with great intensity and clarity of purpose. We have worked strongly on our fitness, structure, and decision-making under pressure, because tournaments like these are about consistency across every match. Playing at home in India gives us added motivation, and we want to make the most of that energy and support.We know that facing Scotland, Uruguay, and Wales in the pool stage will be tricky, as each team brings a different style and strengths. Our focus is on taking one game at a time, staying disciplined with our plans, and expressing ourselves with confidence on the field. The goal is clear — to play fearless hockey, deliver consistent performances, and make our country proud by securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup.”Malaysia - Juliani Mohamad Din, Captain“Qualifying would be a dream come true, but even competing in the qualifiers is already a valuable experience in one of the toughest tournaments in international hockey.”Australia - Stephanie Kershaw“We know it’s really important obviously with World Cup qualification. So our first job is to come here and qualify for the World Cup. But we’re also a very competitive team and we want to win everything that we come to. So, we’re looking to win this tournament and make World Cup as well.”Men's TeamsMalaysia - Mohammad Marhan Mohd Jalil, Captain“Our preparations have been intense, and the squad is motivated for the World Cup qualifiers. Every match in the pool will be a tough challenge, and we’re ready to give our best.”France - François Goyet, Captain“We are approaching the qualification tournament with great excitement and ambition. After our strong run at EuroHockey 2025, where we were considered outsiders, this time the challenge will be to embrace one of the favourites’ roles in the race to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.The task will obviously be difficult against teams such as Scotland, Wales, and Chile in the group stage, but we are confident in the team’s qualities — a blend of youth and experience — to achieve our ultimate goal.”Austria – Benjamin Kölbl, Captain“Our preparation has been relatively short due to the Indoor European Championship in January. We have only one Training camp/tournament in Granada ahead of the qualifier.Our goal is, of course, to achieve the best possible result. At the same time, it is equally important for us to continue growing together as a team, as we have a very Young squad with several new players from the U21. We want to take the next step in our development following the last outdoor European Championship.”USA – Aki Kaeppeler, Captain"Reaching the final at the last Pan Am Cup gave us a boost and more belief in the group and what we’ve been building. It has been a long time since those last competitive games and we are looking forward to playing some top opposition again. We’re confident in the selected team and ready to perform and fight for a World Cup spot!”Pakistan – Ammad Butt, Captain“Hockey is our identity, and victory is our responsibility. Our sticks don’t merely strike the ball they echo generations of greatness. Glory lives in our game, and the world will witness our rise again.”Chile - Andrés Pizarro, Captain "I’ve had the opportunity to play several tournaments at home, and it’s a matter of great pride to compete with our fans cheering us on. This is going to be a great championship — it will be incredible. All of our opponents are tough, but we’ll leave everything on the field and go for qualification to the World Cup.” England - Zach Wallace, Captain“We are looking forward to starting the World Cup Qualifiers on Sunday. There is a great feeling in the squad right now and following a positive winter period, we’ll be hoping to continue our good form in the upcoming games.”

Hobart (Sports Report): Hosts Australia overpowered Pakistan 3-0 in Pro league hockey match here on Friday.Australia defeated Pakistan by three goals to nil.For Australia, Blake Govers scored two goals, while Jake added one. Pakistan remained unable to score a goal until the end of the match.Pakistan will play its fourth and final pool match against Germany on February 14 at the same venue.

Islamabad (Sports Report): Germany’s men fired in five goals from five different scorers to see off Pakistan on the second day of the Tasmanian leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Australia’s women and India’s men endured difficult starts to their campaigns, both going down on home soil in Hobart and Rourkela, respectively. (Men’s) Pakistan 2 – 5 GermanyPakistan produced another gutsy performance in a rainy Hobart, but couldn’t get the better of Germany as they cruised to a 5-2 win.There was plenty of action at both ends in an entertaining opening quarter. But it was Germany who capitalised when an unmarked Christopher Ruhr received a baseline pass in acres of space and smashed home to complete a great team goal and secure a 1–0 lead in the sixth minute. Their second came early in the second quarter from a penalty corner, Tom Grambusch’s drag flick taking a deflection off a defender’s stick on its way in. Pakistan’s reply came a minute later when a crash ball into the circle was met by Muhammad Ammad, who, on the run, produced an audacious overhead deflection to make it 2-1. But Germany struck again before the break, Benedikt Schwarzhaupt converting another penalty corner in the 25th minute to send them into half-time with a 3–1 advantage.The Germans put their foot down with two goals in a clinical third quarter. Malte Hellwig’s cross ball found a deflection off a defender’s stick in the 41st minute and Raphael Hartkopf tapped in at the far post to make it 5-1 less than a minute later. Ali Raza did well to save a penalty stroke with two and a half minutes left in the period to prevent further damage. Pakistan then found late consolation in the final quarter when the impressive Sufyan Khan converted a penalty corner in the 57th minute, but it wasn't enough to stop Germany from securing a comfortable 5-2 win.(Women’s) Australia 0 – 1 ArgentinaArgentina secured their third win of the FIH Hockey Pro League season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Australia in Hobart.After a romping 5-0 victory over Ireland a day earlier, Argentina knew taking on hosts Australia would be a much tougher prospect. And so it proved in a tight, hard-fought first half. Australia controlled much of the possession but were unable to turn that dominance into clear scoring chances. Meanwhile, Argentina’s best opportunities came from a handful of penalty corners, among the nine they earned in the match, that they could not convert.The breakthrough finally arrived in the third quarter from a cleverly worked penalty corner variation. Agustina Gorzelany, playing in her 150th match for Argentina, stepped up and unleashed a powerful, low drag into the bottom right corner, giving Argentina the 1-0 lead in a contest where goals had been hard to come by. With just under three minutes remaining, Australia pulled their goalkeeper in search of an equaliser and earned a penalty corner with a minute to play, but it was well saved as Argentina held on for the narrow win.Argentina captain Agostina Alonso was named player of the match and said: “Every game against Australia is this way. A really tough team. They play really hard, so that’s the game we expected. We [played] the game we prepared for, so I’m happy with that. A good win, a good feeling.”(Men’s) India 1 – 3 BelgiumIndia’s men opened their FIH Hockey Pro League campaign on home soil in Rourkela on Wednesday but went down 3-1 to a slick-looking Belgian outfit.Belgium created the better chances at the start, but India’s defence stood firm to keep them out in a goalless first period. The Belgians then continued to apply pressure in the second quarter and, after India conceded a tame turnover, capitalised swiftly with Nelson Onana slapping it home for a 1–0 lead in the 23rd minute. India began to piece together more convincing attacks in the closing minutes of the quarter and won a penalty corner with a minute remaining. Amit Rohidas’s initial strike hit a charging defender’s stick, but Shilanand Lakra reacted quickest to gather the loose ball and rocket it into the net, sending his side into the half-time break level.After a goalless third quarter, Thomas Crols’ deadly strike from just inside the circle finally broke the deadlock for the Belgians in the 53rd minute. By that stage they had taken a firm grip on the match and just four minutes later, an excellent bit of interplay between Crols and Arno van Dessel saw them getting the better of the Indian defence and slotting it in to wrap up a solid 3-1 win. 

Hobart (Sports News): Hosts Australia defeated Pakistan 3-2 in the FIH Pro League here on Tuesday.Australia got 2-0 lead in the first half while Green Shirts leveled the game 2-2. In the last few minutes hosts made the final scoreline 3-2. Pakistan will face Germany in their next match tomorrow at the same venue.

Islamabad (Sports News): FIH Hockey Pro League matches in Spain and China came to an end with the Belgian and Dutch women extending their unbeaten runs, thanks to confident victories over Germany and England respectively.In the men’s tournament, England and the Netherlands played to a compelling 2-2 draw before the English secured what could be an important extra point in the resulting shootout.(Men’s) England 2 – 2 Netherlands (SO: 3 – 1)England came very close to an outright win in their 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, and produced an outstanding performance to clinch the shootout for a bonus point.Both teams had real chances in the opening five minutes. And it was Zack Wallace who opened the scoring for England in the 8th minute, dispossessing the Dutch from the centre point and driving all the way to the top of the circle, wrongfooting two scrambling defenders and slamming his shot home. Samuel Hooper doubled the lead from a penalty corner two minutes later, keeping his cool when the stop bounced high and timing his strike beautifully as the ball came back down. The Dutch pulled one back in the 22nd minute when striker Tijmen Reyenga backed off the miss-trap quickly to receive a pass and slapped in low at the far post. Play opened up towards the end of the second quarter with a couple of half chances at both ends, and England went into the break with a narrow 2-1 lead.The English dictated the pace of the third quarter well, controlling possession and frustrating their opponents. An excellent penalty corner stick save by Visser kept the Dutch in touch, and they started to gain momentum as the clock ticked down. By the final quarter the Dutch were applying intense pressure, and Miles Bukkens equalised from the penalty spot in the 57th minute after a review showed a defender taking a striker down in the circle. The Dutch nearly snatched the win with a late penalty corner, but Thomas Sorsby made a high-quality save on the post to send the match to a shootout where England prevailed.(Women’s) Germany 1 – 3 BelgiumBelgium extended their unbeaten march at the top of the table with a fighting 3-1 win over Germany.Marien Delphine gave Belgium the perfect start with her 4th-minute opener, driving hard along the baseline to deliver a pass across the goal and then scrambling the ball over the line when the defence failed to clear. The Germans looked more productive though and Katharin Haid levelled the scores in the 20th minute, somewhat fortuitously from messy play with the ball deflecting horribly off a defender’s stick. Both teams looked a bit frantic as the match progressed and they went to their half-time talks with the score locked on 1-1.Belgium reclaimed the lead in the 34th minute when Louise Dewaet showed tremendous grit to carry the ball into the circle before finding the gap at the near post. The Belgians found another gear after the goal and went on to control the rest of the match. They created plenty of opportunities before extending their lead, Ambre Ballenghien dispossessing the sweeper on the 23-yard line for Dewaet to complete her brace from the top of the circle. A good double save by Mali Wichmann kept Germany in the hunt, but a failed penalty corner attempt with three minutes remaining ended their slim hopes of a fightback.(Women’s) England 0 – 3 NetherlandsThe Netherlands looked solid in their 3-0 win, and the winning margin could have been much higher but for an outstanding performance from Sabbie Heesh in England’s goal.The Dutch assumed full control of proceedings from the push back and practically set up camp in English territory for the opening half. The leading goalscorers in the women’s section both grabbed goals in the opening quarter, Yibbi Jansen firing them ahead with her 3rd-minute drag flick, and Frédérique Matla adding one of her own in the 9th. There were plenty more chances in the second quarter, the best falling to Jansen who struck the post with a drag flick, and Joosje Burg who was shut down by Heesh scrambling desperately off her line during open play. Jansen added a drag flick in the 28th for a 3-0 lead at half time.England enjoyed a positive spell of sustained attack at the start of the third quarter, but they came away empty handed. The Dutch then resumed control and applied most of the pressure through to the final whistle, but there were no further goals in the match with Heesh leading a monumental defensive effort.

Lausanne (Sports News): Scotland men’s hockey stand on the brink of history as they prepare for the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026, with captain Rob Field describing the opportunity as something players “dream about as kids”.For Scotland, qualification would mark a first-ever appearance at a men's FIH Hockey World Cup, a milestone that adds extra meaning to the challenge ahead.“To captain the team is a real honour,” said Field. “And knowing it could be the pathway to our first-ever World Cup makes it even more special. It’s something you dream about as a kid.”While the stakes are high, Field believes the balance between excitement and pressure is one the squad is embracing rather than fearing.“There’s definitely a mix of excitement and pressure, but I see that as a positive thing,” he explained. “The excitement comes from the opportunity. Not many groups get the chance to create history, and that’s something we’re embracing.”Scotland arrive at the qualifiers in Santiago, Chile with a squad that blends youth, form and growing experience on the international stage. Despite not having previously featured at a World Cup, the team has steadily built belief through recent campaigns. “We’ve got a really exciting group of players right now,” Field said. “There’s a lot of quality in the squad, a number of guys in great form, and I genuinely believe we play a brand of hockey that’s exciting. That gives us confidence.”Key to that confidence is the experience gained from recent FIH tournaments and continental competitions, including last year’s triumph at the inaugural FIH Hockey Men's Nations Cup 2.“We’re a relatively young group, but we’ve also been together for a while,” Field noted. “A lot of our younger players have already experienced multiple international tournaments. Winning the Nations Cup 2 showed us that we can handle the pressure of knockout hockey and that we can find ways to win.”For Field, the prospect of leading Scotland onto the world’s biggest stage is deeply personal, but the focus remains firmly on the task at hand.“Absolutely, it would be a dream come true,” he said. “Representing your country at a World Cup is the highest level of the game, and to help Scotland reach one for the first time would be incredibly special.”“We’re trying not to get too far ahead of ourselves,” Field added. “The focus is on taking each game as it comes and giving ourselves the best possible chance to make that dream a reality.”As the qualifiers approach, Scotland men carry not only the hopes of a squad, but the possibility of making history for their nation.

Lausanne (PR): The FIH Hockey Pro League returns in February with an action-packed series of matches across Asia, Europe and Oceania, as the world’s best men’s and women’s teams continue their quest for points in the race to grab the trophy and the first available spots at the Hockey tournament in the LA28 Olympic Games. From 5–25 February 2026, five stages will be played across three continents, offering a compelling mix of traditional powerhouses and ambitious challengers, promising high-intensity hockey and a true test of consistency midway through the season.Yunfu, China: Women’s Pro League action opens the month (5–10 February)The February window in the women’s competition begins in China, where the hosts welcome England and Netherlands for a series of matches that will set the tone for the rest of the month.Netherlands will arrive with their customary depth and attacking flair, having started the season with 3 wins in 3 matches in Argentina, earlier in December 2025. Meanwhile England will be looking for better results in the China stage, after collecting 4 points from their opening 4 matches in Ireland. For China, home advantage provides a crucial opportunity to measure progress against two strong sides as they begin their 2025-26 campaign. Their home performance was very strong in the previous season and they will want to continue giving their supporters a lot to cheer for as they begin their new campaign. Valencia, Spain: Double-header delight in Europe (5–10 February)Simultaneously, Spain will become a hive of European hockey showdowns, hosting both women’s and men’s fixtures.In the women’s competition, Spain face Belgium and Germany in a demanding series. Belgium have made a stellar start to the new season of the competition, winning all 4 of their matches in Ireland, earlier in December 2025, as they find themselves at the top of the women’s standings. Germany will look to improve on their start to the season after picking up a solitary point in the Argentina stage during December 2025. Hosts Spain, who had a terrific first season in the 2024-25 edition of the competition, after earning promotion via the FIH Hockey Nations Cup, will be eager to capitalise on their momentum and familiar conditions with strong home support to get their new campaign off to a bright start. The men’s competition in Valencia sees the hosts joined by England and Netherlands. With all three teams playing a brand of attacking and fast-paced hockey fans can expect tightly contested matches and minimal margins. Netherlands’ are the reigning FIH Hockey Pro League champions, but the margins are razor thin at the top and all three teams will fancy their chances at taking crucial points in the Valencia stage, with an Olympic spot up for grabs!Hobart, Australia and Rourkela, India take centre stage mid-month (10–15 February)From 10–15 February, the FIH Hockey Pro League splits across two continents, with women’s and men’s action unfolding in Australia and India.In Australia, the women’s teams from Australia, Argentina and Ireland go head-to-head. The hosts will play their first matches of the season, with Ireland and Argentina already having played a set of 4 matches at their respective home stages in December 2025. Ireland will aim to continue building their Pro League credentials, with opportunities to challenge established sides and gain invaluable experience at the highest level. Meanwhile Argentina will hope to climb the league standings with an eye for the top step on the podium that has eluded them since their first title in the 2021-22 season. Australia also hosts men’s matches featuring Australia, Germany and Pakistan. This trio guarantees excitement, blending Germany’s structured efficiency with Pakistan’s flair and unpredictability, all against an Australian side renowned for pace, physicality and home dominance.Meanwhile in India, the men’s competition will feature India, Argentina and Belgium. Playing on home soil, India will be keen to harness passionate support as they face two teams with proven Pro League pedigree. Argentina currently lead the league with 11 points from their first four matches, which were played in Santiago del Estero in December 2025. Belgium slot in right behind them with 10 points from their opening four games. With both teams starting strong, the onus will be on the hosts to make a bright start to their campaign at the expense of two teams in red hot form! Australia closes the month in style (20–25 February)The February matches will conclude back in Hobart, Australia from 20–25 February, once again showcasing both women’s and men’s competitions. In the women’s matches, Australia will welcome China and Spain, while the men’s fixtures will see Australia joined by India and Spain. The importance of the closing February stage will be magnified further as all teams will have played their first set of matches earlier in the month. Their performances in the previous stages will dictate the direction and risk appetite of each team in Hobart to close out the first half of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2025-26 season. A pivotal month in the Pro League seasonFebruary’s matches represent a crucial phase of the FIH Hockey Pro League, with teams balancing performance, squad rotation and travel demands across multiple continents. As rivalries intensify and the standings begin to take clearer shape, every goal, save and tackle could prove decisive.With world-class hockey on display from China to Spain, India and Australia, February promises to be a defining chapter in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2025-26 season – one that fans around the globe will not want to miss.