The FIH Hockey Pro League women’s relegation battle is set for a tense finish after Ireland’s 3-1 loss to Germany on Friday left them tied on points with England at the bottom of the table, with England still holding a game in hand.

Australia’s women also didn’t do themselves any favours after being beaten 2-1 by Belgium. In the other women’s match of the day, Argentina turned the tables on Spain, beating them 2-0 to climb above the Belgians into second spot on the log.

Meanwhile, in the men’s tournament, another thrilling encounter saw India getting the better of arch-rivals Pakistan 7-1. And there were also goals galore in the showdown between Spain and Argentina, which the South Americans edged in a shootout after a 4-4 draw before the Netherlands made the most of their chances to beat Australia 6-3.

(Women’s) Argentina 2 – 0 Spain

There was a sense of relief for Argentina as they turned the tables on Spain to secure a flattering 2-0 victory, bouncing back from a defeat against the same opposition just three days earlier.

Argentina controlled much of the possession and created the better chances in the opening period, but Spain’s deep defence held firm and frustrated their attack throughout. The Spanish looked dangerous at times and earned two penalty corners in the first half, but were unable to capitalise on either opportunity.

The Spanish maintained their deep defensive structure into the second half, continuing to disrupt the Argentinians in the final third. Spain’s goalkeeper was called into action a couple of times in the third quarter, but was never truly stretched as the South Americans struggled to piece together meaningful attacks.

Then, just as Argentina’s frustrations were mounting, Eugenia Trinchinetti produced a moment of individual quality at the start of the final period. She created something out of nothing and bundled the ball in to end Argentina’s 10-quarter goal drought.

Spain pulled their keeper off to chase a goal with just under three minutes remaining in the match, but the move backfired when a breakaway run from Brisa Bruggesser ended with her planting the ball into an empty goal in the final 10 seconds.

Eugenia Trinchinetti was named as Player of the Match for Argentina and said: “We are really happy. We had too much yesterday and the other day that we couldn’t win, so this was really, really important for us… We are a really good team, we have a good spirit and we always are really positive.”

(Men’s) Spain 4 – 4 Argentina (SO: 1 – 3)

Argentina clawed their way back twice in their thrilling 4-4 draw with Spain and then clinched the shootout 3-1. Gerard Clapes, Pepe Cunill and Joaquin Menini all celebrated their 100^th caps for Spain in scorching conditions that required additional hydration breaks.

An action-packed opening minute saw a stoppage after 20 seconds for a knock to the eye of Argentina’s Matias Andreotti, who thankfully returned to action later in the quarter sporting a bandage. Thomas Domene then opened the scoring for Argentina with a deflection from open play after just 50 seconds.

Spain enjoyed a period in the ascendancy and struck twice in quick succession, first intercepting a poor trough pass for José Basterra to smash his reverse shot home in the 24^th minute. Basterra was at it again a minute later, receiving a pass from the baseline and clattering it in first time to give Spain a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Spain always looked dangerous on the counter and they worked the full length of the pitch for Nicolas Alvarez’s 34^th-minute slap-in. Argentina then levelled the scores with two drag flicks, Domene in the 39^th minute and Nicolas della Torre in the 43^rd.

Argentina carried their momentum deep into the final quarter as Spain seemed to be flagging in the heat, but the Spanish snuck ahead again in the 57^th minute. Alvarez made tremendous ground to keep a long pass in play along the touchline, then carried it into the circle and linked up with Clapes, who bumped it back to him for the tap-in. Santiago Tarazona volleyed one in off the goalkeeper for Argentina in the 58^th minute to level the scores, forcing the match to a shootout where Argentina prevailed.

Argentina’s Matias Andreotti was named Player of the Match and said: “It was a lot of emotions… but we came back and did what we needed to win this match.”

(Women’s) Belgium 2 – 1 Australia

Belgium kept their ambitions of a second-place finish in the Pro League alive with a 2-1 win over Australia, who remain in the relegation fight.

After a draw in their previous encounter, both sides began with intent. Australia thought they had scored inside the opening two minutes, but the goal was ruled out after a video review. Belgium then earned a penalty corner when Famke van Heel was impeded by Jocelyn Bartram just outside the circle, an incident that led to the goalkeeper receiving a five-minute yellow card. Charlotte Englebert made the most of the opportunity, dragging the penalty corner through replacement keeper Zoe Newman’s legs to put Belgium ahead in the 10th minute.

The Belgians were then reduced to 10 players for much of the second quarter after Camille Belis was shown a 10-minute yellow, and Australia quickly capitalised on the extra space. They made the most of the re-award off their first penalty corner opportunity, which fell for Grace Stewart to fire a reverse stick strike high into the net in the 22^nd minute.

After a 1-1 scoreline at half-time, clear chances dried up in the third quarter as the game became increasingly scrappy, with turnovers mounting as the scorching heat began to take its toll.

The momentum then seemed to be swinging the Australians’ way in the final quarter, but it was Belgium who found the breakthrough. A good penalty corner variation finished with Belis pouncing on the rebound to make it 2-1 with two minutes to go.

Belgium’s Delphine Marien was named Player of the Match and said: “I think we work a lot as a team, especially in these kind of moments. It’s super-warm so it’s tough as a team but I think we put in a great performance until the last quarter, so I’m really proud of the team.

(Men’s) India 7 – 1 Pakistan

India came back from a goal down to run riot in their 7-1 win over Pakistan.

The Indians looked to be in control of proceedings throughout, although Pakistan always presented a genuine threat on the counterattack. Pakistan’s defensive effort was massive in the first half, and they snatched the lead very much against the run of play in the 13^th minute, Abu Bakar Mahmood nailing his low drag flick.

There was a long stoppage in the 19^th minute when Pakistan’s Ahmed Nadeem was struck in the face by a nasty deflection as he attacked in the Indian circle. While he played no further part in the match, the immediate concern shown by all players is a true testament to the nature of the sport.

Sukhjeet Singh equalised for India from a penalty corner variation in the 20^th minute, racing towards the p-spot for a massive deflection into the top of the net. Harmanpreet Singh then fired India ahead with one of the best drag flicks of the competition in the 26^th, launching a ferocious effort into the top left corner with mere millimetres to spare.

The floodgates opened in the third quarter with Hardik Singh doubling India’s lead from the penalty spot in the 34^th minute. Jugraj Singh hammered in a rare field goal from a breakout a minute later, and Abhishek added a tomahawk in the 41^st. Raj Kumar Pal added the fourth goal of the quarter in the 44^th minute, tapping in on the post from a recycled penalty corner. Dilpreet Singh then added a reverse stick dink from close range in the 54^th minute to complete the scoring.

The Player of the Match was awarded to India’s Hardik Singh, who said: “I think the match was really, really good, but we need to start stronger, we don’t want to have a goal against us… The boys played really, really well, we know what we have to do.”

(Women’s) Germany 3 – 1 Ireland

After they threw everything into a massive defensive effort, Ireland suffered a costly 3-1 defeat to Germany.

Germany’s sustained early pressure paid off in the ninth minute from a penalty corner. The initial effort bounced down off goalkeeper Lizzie Murphy and was popped across the face of goal, where Lilly Stoffelsma was on hand to tap in for a 1-0 lead.

Murphy remained busy for the rest of the opening quarter as Germany continued to dominate territory and possession and create chances, while Ireland offered little going forward.

The Germans kept up the pressure in the second quarter and earned two penalty corners in the closing minutes of the half, but Ireland’s determined defence stood firm to keep the deficit at just one goal heading into the break.

After absorbing all the pressure in the second half, Ireland finally had their chance on attack with just over five minutes to go when Roisin Upton fired in from a penalty corner.

But Germany struck back immediately when a penalty corner variation effort popped up off the goalkeeper and was scrambled in by Lena Micheel at the far post.

The Irish pulled off their goalkeeper for the remainder of the match. But that only led to them conceding another goal in the final minute, Lynn Krings slotting one in to the empty goal, after a chaotic period in which Caoimhe Purdue was red-carded.

German captain Lisa Nolte was selected as the Player of the Match and said: “I’m very happy. I’m very proud of the team, honestly. It was a great team performance. It was a great energy, especially in the first half, and it’s a great result for us.”

(Men’s) Netherlands 6 – 3 Australia

Floris Wortelboer celebrated his 150^th cap for the Netherlands as they posted a clinical 6-3 win over Australia.

Australia had the upper hand for most of the opening quarter, but they conceded a cheap penalty corner in the 13^th minute after Jed Snowden had done exceptional work to shut down a shot from close range. Jip Janssen converted to give the Dutch the lead.

Terrance Pieters slid a sensational pass across the circle to the unmarked Duco Telgenkamp for an excellent reverse stick finish just four minutes later. Derk Meijer then got his angles right to deny Tom Craig from close range before Ky Willott halved the deficit for the Kookaburras with a well-taken PC slap in the 20^th minute. The Dutch responded with a penalty corner rebound in the 23^rd minute, Telgenkamp threading the figurative needle from the baseline through the tiniest of gaps.

Derck de Vilder added a fourth for the Netherlands with a long-range solo effort, beating a man inside his own half and being allowed to run unchallenged for a strike from the top of the circle. Australia led in both circle entry and penalty corner stats, but they found themselves trailing 4-1 at half-time.

The Aussies were constantly looking for opportunities to lift the intensity in a slower third quarter, and they did most of the attacking without any reward. The Dutch had one PC chance in the final seconds of the quarter, and Tijmen Reyenga sent it flying high into the goal off the first wave’s foot.

Nathan Ephraums finally found the net for Australia in the 52^nd minute, running at full pace behind the defence and flicking it deftly into goal with his second touch. Tim Howard added a PC variation from the left of the castle in the 59^th, but Jip Janssen had the final say with a drag flick for the Netherlands at the death.

The Player of the Match went to The Netherlands’ Derk Meijer, who said: “I’m very proud of the boys. We’ve been playing a lot so it’s tough conditions, tough opponent, so scoring six is really nice, and playing well in goal is also a nice feeling so I’m very happy.”

Current Hero Top Scorers:

Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED) (13 goals)

Men – Tomas Domene (ARG) (19 goals)

To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.

FIH Hockey Pro League – 26 June 2026

Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, London (UK)

Women

Result: Match 64 (W)

Argentina 2 – 0 Spain

Player of the match: Eugenia Trinchinetti (ARG)

Umpires: Hong-Zhen Lim (SGP), Junko Wagatsuma (JPN), Sarah Wilson (SCO-video)

Men

Result: Match 65 (M)

India 7 – 1 Pakistan

Player of the match: Hardik Singh (IND)

Umpires: Magali Sergeant (BEL), Coen van Bunge (NED), Sophie Bockelmann (GER-video)

Ernst Reuter Sportfeld, Berlin (GER)

Men

Result: Match 64 (M)

Spain 4 – 4 Argentina (SO: 1 – 3)

Player of the match: Matias Andreotti (ARG)

Umpires: Michiel Otten (NED), Jonathan von Hoesslin (RSA), Timothy Sheahan (AUS-video)

Women

Result: Match 66 (W)

Germany 3 – 1 Ireland

Player of the match: Lisa Nolte (GER)

Umpires: Yoon Seon Kim (KOR), Laurine Delforge (BEL), Steven Bakker (NED-video)

Belfius Hockey Area, Wavre (BEL)

Women

Result: Match 65 (W)

Belgium 2 – 1 Australia

Player of the match: Delphine Marien (BEL)

Umpires: Hannah Harrison (ENG), Cookie Tan (SGP), Raphael Adrien (GER-video)

Men

Result: Match 66 (M)

Netherlands 6 – 3 Australia

Player of the match: Derk Meijer (NED)

Umpires: Darren Hubach (RSA), Rachel Williams (ENG), Gareth Greenfield (NZL-video)