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Argentina held hosts Belgium to a goalless draw in Wavre to top Pool F and avoid a semi-final against defending champions the Netherlands in the Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026. They meet Australia in the last four, with Belgium drawn against the Dutch. Germany, already eliminated, beat Spain 4-1 in the pool’s other match to end the Spanish campaign.
Wavre, Belgium: Both sides were already through. What remained was the question of who they would meet next, and Argentina answered it by not conceding.
Las Leonas had booked their semi-final place two days earlier. Belgium secured theirs once Germany’s win over Spain removed the last mathematical possibility. That left a match in which the only prize was first place in Pool F — and, with it, the right to avoid the Netherlands in the semi-finals.
A Flurry of Corners, and Nothing
Belgium found the first half difficult and created little of consequence. It was goalless at the interval, and goalless again at the final break.
The last quarter belonged to the hosts. Belgium generated sustained pressure and a run of penalty corners, and Argentina absorbed all of it. Las Leonas held on for the point that took them to the top of the pool.
ALSO READ: India concede twice inside six minutes and exit the World Cup without a point in Pool E
Emma Puvrez was named Player of the Match and struck a note of optimism afterwards, saying the performance gave the side “a lot of confidence for the next game” despite the frustration of not converting.
For Argentina, the draw means Australia in the semi-final rather than the three-time defending champions. For Belgium, it means the Netherlands.
Germany Sign Off in Style
Earlier at the Belfius Hockey Arena, Spain needed a win to stay alive and were beaten comprehensively by a German side playing only for pride.
Lynn Krings finished a run down the right to open the scoring in the fifth minute after Germany had controlled the opening exchanges. Clara Perez then kept Spain in the contest with a string of saves — including a diving stick stop and one blocked off her forehead from a penalty corner — before Sara Strauss deflected home from close range in the 14th.
Xantal Gine pulled one back from a penalty stroke in the 41st minute. Germany’s response was immediate: Jette Fleschutz scored within seconds, in her 100th international, and Lena Micheel added a fourth from a swift counterattack moments later. Three goals in three minutes. Germany finish third in Pool F and go into the fifth-place game; Spain, on a single point, drop to the seventh-place playoff.
The Last Four
The semi-finals pair the Netherlands with Belgium and Argentina with Australia. The Dutch topped Pool E with nine points, beating India 2-0 and China 4-1 in the second round.
Australia reached the last four in the most marginal circumstances available. They finished level with India on two points and on −2 goal difference, separated only by goals scored — three to India’s two — after a goalless draw between the two sides on Sunday. India, unbeaten in the first round, went out by that single goal and now contest the fifth-place playoff.
Results — Pool F, Women’s
Germany 4-1 Spain (Lynn Krings 5′, Sara Strauss 14′, Jette Fleschutz 42′, Lena Micheel 43′; Xantal Gine 41′ pen stroke)
Belgium 0-0 Argentina — Player of the Match: Emma Puvrez (BEL)
Final Pool F standings: Argentina 7 pts (+4); Belgium 5 (+2); Germany 3 (0); Spain 1 (−6)
Final Pool E standings: Netherlands 9 pts (+7); Australia 2 (−2, 3 GF); India 2 (−2, 2 GF); China 2 (−3)
Semi-finals: Netherlands v Belgium · Argentina v Australia
Venue: Belfius Hockey Arena, Wavre
