Argentina’s women made sure of their place at next year’s FIH Hockey World Cup with a 3-1 victory over China as FIH Hockey Pro League action resumed in Antwerp, London and Berlin on Saturday.
While the Netherlands women – already qualified along with co-hosts Belgium – will lift the FIH Hockey Pro League title once again this season, the all-important qualifying spot was still up for grabs heading into Saturday’s matches. However, Argentina’s win ensured they can no longer be caught by China or any other challengers, sealing their qualification in style.
Over in London, in a show of support for FIH Diversity and Inclusion Day, Australia’s men took to the field wearing rainbow socks, just as their women’s side had done earlier in the day. The team staged a dramatic comeback from two goals down to keep their title hopes alive, while Germany’s men can no longer catch the Dutch at the top of the table after going down to Argentina in Berlin.
(Women’s) Belgium 5 – 1 India
Belgium gave the home crowd in Antwerp plenty to cheer about with an emphatic 5-1 win over India.
The home side started with urgency and won the first penalty corner after just 20 seconds. However, it was India who scored from their first opportunity in the sixth minute, Deepika’s drag flick deflecting off the first runner to beat the goalkeeper. Some excellent goalkeeping from both Savita and Elena Sotgiu kept it 1-0 for India at half time.
Belgium had dominated all the stats in the first half, and they stepped up their efforts to win 13 penalty corners in the second half alone. Hélène Brasseur equalised in the 37th minute with a reverse stick strike off a broken-down penalty corner. Alix Marien then gave the Red Panthers the lead with her first senior international goal in the 41st, jabbing the ball over the line from a penalty corner as it threatened to trickle wide from the initial save. Ambre Ballenghien added a drag flick, and Brasseur got her second with a penalty corner deflection from the p-spot. Charlotte Englebert then wrapped up the scoring, and the comprehensive win, with a penalty stroke.
Hélène Brasseur was named as player of the match for Belgium and said: “Happy with the win. Also, we played some good hockey, so it was nice to see… we kept pressing, we kept creating chances and getting PCs, so it’s nice to see we kept hunting.”
(Women’s) England 0 – 1 Spain
Spain didn’t take advantage of the opportunities they created, but did just enough tor a 1-0 win over England in London.
England had their first shot inside 30 seconds, but Howard pulled it wide and the home side went on to endure a torrid half. Spain created plenty of chances, but put two shots over the crossbar. The English defended for long periods and only some excellent goalkeeping from Sabbie Heesh kept it goalless at half time.
England again managed to create an early chance in the second half, this time being denied by a sharp save from Clara Perez. They failed to assert control though and Spain were soon launching their dangerous attacks again. The English manufactured one great opportunity, intercepting a poor pass out of defence and driving hard at the circle to earn a penalty stroke, but Grace Balsdon pushed it agonisingly wide. A goal seemed inevitable for Spain, and it finally came from a penalty corner variation in the 51st minute, after Candela Mejias completed a brilliant injector’s deflection to beat Heesh. England pulled their keeper off with five minutes to play, and they had two shots plus two penalty corners in the final minute, but Spain hung on for the win.
Spain’s Luciana Molina was named player of the match and said: “I am really happy, really grateful, this trophy is because of the team, it’s thanks to them.”
(Women’s) Argentina 3 – 1 China
An elated Argentina came from behind in their 3-1 win over China to secure their place at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup.
Chen Yi got China off to a good start with her successful penalty corner deflection from outside the right post in the second minute. But Maria Ortiz hit back for Argentina, punting one in from scrappy ball in the goalmouth. Victoria Falasco then put Argentina ahead in the 18th minute with a brilliant deflection under huge pressure from the goalkeeper and a defender. Las Leonas had created the better opportunities and deserved their 2-1 lead at half time, but the contest was far from over.
China was the better team through a goalless third quarter, but Cristina Cosentino in goal for Argentina was alert to any dangers and kept a clean sheet. The Chinese failed to take advantage of their 6-2 penalty corner advantage in the match, and they ended up pulling their goalkeeper off in a brave attempt to find a goal. Julieta Jankunas had the final word for Argentina in the 58th minute, though, slamming her reverse shot into the empty Chinese net to ensure the win.
Victoria Falasco of Argentina was named the player of the match and said: ” We think it went really well. We are very happy with the way that we played. We played our game, and we’re happy we qualified for the World Cup.”
(Women’s) Germany 4 – 0 Australia
Germany started their home leg in Berlin with a crucial 4-0 victory over Australia, lifting themselves off the bottom of the table while they still have two games in hand over England and India below them.
Both teams started with good intent, but Germany looked the more dangerous on attack. The early chance fell to the home side and Sara Strauss fired them ahead in the sixth minute with a reverse strike from an acute angle. That ended the scoring for the first half, but Die Danes looked to be very much in control, leading 1-0 at the break.
A couple of quick goals at the start of the second half gave Germany a huge advantage. Lynn Krings doubled their lead in the 32nd minute, an Australian defender having no option but to play at her threatening pass across goal and knocking it under her own goalkeeper. Sophia Schwabe added a third goal from open play three minutes later, showing her hunger for goals by getting between a defender and the goalkeeper to score a difficult deflection.
The Hockeyroos nearly pulled one back from a penalty corner, but Julia Sonntag got her outstretched right foot to the ball and nudged it wide. Jette Fleschütz then wrapped up the scoring with a good individual goal in the 48th minute, carrying the ball from her own half and finishing with a reverse strike.
Germany’s Jette Fleschütz was nominated the player of the match and said: “I think it was very important that we kept fighting in the second half and we finally scored some goals, because after the last games it was very frustrating and that’s why I’m very happy.”
(Men’s) Ireland 2 – 4 Spain
Spain came from behind twice in a nail-biting 4-2 win over a resolute Ireland.
The Red Sticks completely dominated the first half, but it was Ireland who snatched a third-minute goal, John McKee sliding in for a high-quality deflection from open play. Bruno Avila restored parity for Spain with his 15th-minute drag flick, and Spain did everything but score during the rest of the half. Goalkeeper Luke Roleston led a brave Irish defensive effort to keep them in contention, and Lee Cole gave them an unlikely 2-1 lead with his 28th-minute penalty stroke following a rare spell of Irish attack.
A quiet third quarter seemed to fly by after the excitement of the first half, and Nicolas Alvarez eventually levelled the scores with a well-taken field goal at the start of the final quarter. Spain left things very late, but they finally buried the Irish with two goals in the 58th minute. Alvarez grabbed his second field goal with a deflection in front of goal, and Pepe Cunill added a drag flick to confirm the win.
The player of the match was awarded to Spain’s Nicolas Alvarez who said: “I think we didn’t play very well, but’s it’s an important win when you play badly.”
(Men’s) Belgium 6 – 3 India
Belgium produced some magical goals in a comprehensive 6-3 win against India in Antwerp.
The Belgians earned a penalty corner inside the opening 19 seconds and Arthur van Doren fired them into the lead with his rebound shot. India dominated the second quarter without taking any reward, and Alexander Hendrickx made it 2-0 to Belgium with his 28th-minute drag flick.
India were brilliant in the third quarter and Dilpreet Singh halved the deficit in the 36th minute, knocking in a penalty corner after it fell to him off the post man. Mandeep Singh then made it 2-2 with a deflection from open play two minutes later.
The match was set for a thrilling finish, and it was Belgium who delivered with three quick goals. Tom Boon made a superb pass from the baseline for Roman Duvekot to steer home in the 49th minute. Victor Foubert then showed his sensational skills, driving into the circle and popping the ball to Thibeau Stockbroekx for a tap-in at the back post in the 53rd. Van Doren added a deflection from open play a minute later.
India refused to concede defeat, and Amit Rohidas gave them a glimmer of hope when he crashed a drag flick home in the 56th minute. They pulled their goalkeeper off with four minutes remaining, but Belgium then put the result beyond doubt. Fittingly, it was Tom Boon who scored the winner to become the top goal-scorer in FIH Hockey Pro League history, surpassing the record previously held by Harmanpreet Singh.
The player of the match was awarded to Belgium’s Arthur van Doren who said: “I think looking at our performance, we had some good phases of play, but also very poor. It’s obviously a combination of the quality of India that does very good stuff on the ball, and we suffer a little bit. I think in the end we turned it around and that’s what matters.”
(Men’s) England 3– 4 Australia
Australia’s title hopes were on the ropes at two goals down, but Blake Govers led the comeback with a hat-trick to beat England 4-3 in London.
There were excellent opportunities for both teams in the opening 90 seconds, Australia winning two penalty corners and England getting a shot from open play. Cooper Burns gave Australia the lead in the fourth minute, showing quick hands in the circle to get his shot away. Zach Wallace then pulled one back with a scrappy field goal in the 13th minute. England found a higher gear in the second quarter, probing in the Australian circle and forcing Jed Snowden to work hard in goal. Henry Croft scored on debut for England when he picked up an aerial on the p-spot and found the goal with three defenders trying to shut him down from all angles. A good glove save from James Mazarelo in open play and a frantic goal-line scramble off a penalty corner kept England in front, and Sam Hooper made it 3-1 on the stroke of half time with a sizzling drag flick.
Australia were much better in the second half, helped by England receiving two green cards in the third quarter. Govers pulled one back for the Kookaburras with his 39th-minute drag flick, which deflected off a defender’s glove to beat Mazarelo. He then levelled the scores in the 46th minute with an enormous strike from a penalty corner, and completed his hat-trick with a diving deflection from open play a minute later to secure the crucial three points.
The player of the match went to Australia’s Blake Govers, who said: “England at home is always a tough match. They really stuck it to us in the first half, so we were lucky to get our stuff together and get a few quick goals in the second half.”
(Men’s) Germany 2 – 3 Argentina
Argentina fired in three goals in a productive third quarter, fighting back from two goals down for a 3-2 win over hosts Germany in Berlin.
The Germans started well and Michel Struthoff put them ahead when his slip from the baseline deflected off a defender in the seventh minute. Paul-Philipp Kaufmann then doubled the lead with a deflection from a penalty corner variation to the right side. Argentina were gifted a free shot at goal when the German defenders stepped out of position, believing a free hit had been awarded to them, but goalkeeper Alexander Stadler somehow made the save to keep it 2-0 at half time.
Argentina commanded the third quarter, and Bautista Capurro pulled one back for them in the 36th minute with a good deflection from open play. Lucio Mendez then equalised in the 43rd minute, receiving the ball in the circle behind the defence and roofing his reverse shot. A minute later, Tomas Domene fired Argentina ahead, drifting into space for an almost identical strike to that of Mendez. The Germans survived a barrage of Argentinian penalty corners in the middle of the fourth quarter, and the match ended in dramatic fashion. Germany won a penalty corner after a referral with time up on the clock, but Nicolas Della Torre on the post tickled the shot wide to secure the full three points.
Argentina’s Bautista Capurro was named player of the match and said: “We know that matches with Germany are like this, so I think we did great.”
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED) (17 goals)
Men – Tom Boon (BEL) (19 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Hockey Pro League – 21 June 2025
Sportcentrum Wilrijkse Plein-Antwerp, Belgium (BEL)
Women
Result: Match 59 (W)
Belgium 5 – 1 India
Player of the match: Hélène Brasseur (BEL)
Umpires: Kristy Robertson (AUS), Ayanna McClean (TTO), Marcin Grochal (POL-video)
Men
Result: Match 59 (M)
Ireland 2 – 4 Spain
Player of the match: Nicolas Alvarez (ESP)
Umpires: Aleisha Neumann (AUS), Paul Walker (ENG), Tim Meissner (GER-video)
Result: Match 61 (M)
Belgium 6 – 3 India
Player of the match: Arthur van Doren (BEL)
Umpires: Tim Meissner (GER), Daniël Veerman (NED), Aleisha Neumann (AUS-video)
Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, London, United Kingdom (UK)
Women
Result: Match 58 (W)
England 0 – 1 Spain
Player of the match: Luciana Molina (ESP)
Umpires: Harry Collinson (ENG), Lorijn De Kraker (NED), Ahmed Elsayed (EGY-video)
Men
Result: Match 60 (M)
England 3 – 4 Australia
Player of the match: Blake Govers (AUS)
Umpires: Irene Presenqui (ARG), Raphaël Adrien (GER), Jonathan von Hoesslin (RSA-video)
Ernst Reuter Sportfeld, Berlin, Germany (GER)
Women
Result: Match 57 (W)
Argentina 3 – 1 China
Player of the match: Victoria Falasco (ARG)
Umpires: Jonathan von Hoesslin (RSA), Kamile Mockaityte (LTU), Clare Barwood (WAL-video)
Result: Match 60 (W)
Germany 4 – 0 Australia
Player of the match: Jette Fleschütz (GER)
Umpires: Harry Collinson (ENG), Emi Yamada (JPN), Ayanna McClean (TTO-video)
Men
Result: Match 62 (M)
Germany 2 – 3 Argentina
Player of the match: Bautista Capurro (ARG)
Umpires: Paul van den Assum (NED), Marcin Grochal (POL), Hideki Kinoshita (JPN-video)
