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Jose Basterra scored twice as Spain beat defending champions Germany 2-1 in their opening Pool F match at the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026, recovering from a first round in which they had lost to Australia. In the pool’s other fixture at the Belfius Hockey Arena, Tom Boon cancelled out Tom Craig’s opener as Australia and Belgium drew 1-1. Pool F is now the tighter of the two second-round groups.
Wavre, Belgium: Germany came into the second round having conceded twice in the first, and having beaten the hosts along the way. They left Friday having lost to a side they had every reason to expect to handle.
Justus Weigand gave the defending champions the lead in the 26th minute, and for four minutes the pattern held. Then Spain found the equaliser, and after the interval they found the winner.
Basterra Does It Twice
Jose Basterra levelled from a penalty corner in the 30th, and struck the decisive blow with a field goal in the 50th — a finish that ended Germany’s unbeaten run at this World Cup and gave Spain three points from a fixture few had marked as theirs.
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Basterra had also scored twice in Spain’s opening 3-1 win over South Africa in the first round, though Marc Reyne has been the more prolific of the two across the tournament. Spain arrived in Pool F carrying no points forward, having lost 1-0 to Australia in the group stage, which makes this win considerably more valuable than a straightforward opener.
Boon Answers Craig
The pool’s other match produced a 1-1 draw that suits Australia rather better than the hosts.
Tom Craig put Australia ahead in the 23rd minute, and the lead held until Tom Boon levelled in the 37th — the Belgian forward’s fifth goal of the tournament, after the four he scored against Malaysia in the first round.
Australia had carried three points into the second round courtesy of their win over Spain, and the draw keeps them unbeaten at this World Cup. Belgium, who came in on nothing after losing to Germany in Pool B, remain the side with the most work to do, though Boon’s continued form gives them something to build on.
A Pool That Has Not Settled Anything
Nothing about Friday clarified Pool F. Australia lead on four points, Spain and Germany sit on three apiece, and Belgium have one. Two semi-final places are available and all four sides remain live.
Sunday decides it. Germany face Australia and Belgium play Spain, both at the Belfius Hockey Arena.
The contrast with Pool E is stark. There, the Netherlands have already qualified with a perfect record. Here, the defending world champions are one bad afternoon from the classification bracket.
Results — 21 August 2026, Men’s, Pool F
Spain 2-1 Germany (Jose Basterra 30′, 50′; Justus Weigand 26′)
Australia 1-1 Belgium (Tom Craig 23′; Tom Boon 37′)
Pool F standings: Australia 4 pts (+1), Spain 3, Germany 3, Belgium 1 (-1)
