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Co-hosts Belgium thrashed New Zealand 5-2 in Wavre with Justine Rasir scoring twice, Spain edged a spirited Ireland 3-2 in a five-goal Wavre thriller with Xantal Giné’s late penalty corner proving decisive, and England shut out South Africa 4-0 in Amstelveen on Day 2 of the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026.
Amstelveen/Wavre: The Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026 moved into its second day with two decisive results that offered early indicators of how the pools are likely to shape up. Belgium, playing before their home crowd at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, were magnificent — five different goal-scorers reflecting the collective threat that makes them one of the tournament favourites. England, meanwhile, were ruthless in Amstelveen, conceding nothing and scoring with efficiency to put three points on the board without breaking sweat.
Belgium Put On a Show in Wavre
New Zealand’s campaign began in challenging fashion, and it barely improved as the match wore on. Belgium were in the ascendancy from the first whistle, with Stephanie Vanden Borre opening the scoring in the ninth minute to settle any home nerves and set the tone for what would become a thoroughly one-sided first half.
Emma Puvrez doubled the lead in the 12th minute, and Charlotte Englebert made it 3-0 in the 22nd — three goals inside the first quarter and a half that rendered the match a contest in name only. New Zealand refused to lie down, with Katie Doar having scored an early fourth-minute equaliser that Belgium quickly overturned, and Hannah Cotter adding a consolation in the 33rd to make it 3-2 at half-time and briefly suggest the second half might produce something more competitive.
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It did not. Justine Rasir settled any Belgian anxieties with goals in the 41st and 47th minutes, completing a brace that sealed a 5-2 scoreline and sent the home crowd home satisfied. Five different goal-scorers, a fast-start, a wobble, and a dominant closing half — Belgium demonstrated both their quality and their resilience in equal measure. New Zealand, Pool C opponents who will need to regroup quickly, find themselves with work to do.
England Shut South Africa Out in Amstelveen
Earlier in the day at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, England produced the kind of composed, professional display that group-stage hockey demands. South Africa — playing their first Women’s World Cup on this stage in years — were simply unable to cope with an England side that was sharp in attack and impenetrable in defence.
Darcy Bourne gave England the lead in the 10th minute, and Tessa Howard doubled it in the 14th — two goals in the opening quarter that immediately removed the tension from the occasion. Lizzie Neal extended the advantage in the 30th minute, and Sophie Hamilton put the finishing touches on a 4-0 win in the 41st. England kept a clean sheet throughout and never looked seriously threatened, with South Africa’s attack finding no way through a well-organised defensive structure.
The result puts England firmly in control of Pool D — alongside the other group results from the day — and makes their next fixture a genuinely significant occasion in determining who tops the pool and advances directly to the semi-finals.
Ireland’s Comeback Falls Short Against Spain in Wavre Thriller
The most dramatic match of Day 2 came from Pool C in Wavre, where Spain edged Ireland 3-2 in a five-goal thriller that swung repeatedly before Xantal Giné’s penalty corner with five minutes remaining settled the contest.
Ireland — the 2018 World Cup silver medallists — had dominated possession in the opening exchanges but failed to convert their early pressure. Spain had two goals ruled out by the video umpire in the second quarter as Ireland rode their luck, but Laia Vidosa’s 23rd-minute strike, engineered by a precise Laura Bosch pass that left the attacker unchallenged to fire low into the corner, gave Spain a 1-0 lead at half-time.
The third quarter produced three goals in breathless succession. Hannah McLoughlin levelled for Ireland from their first penalty corner of the match, deflecting in at the top to make it 1-1 — but Sophia Keenan restored Spain’s advantage almost immediately, pouncing on a rebound from another penalty corner that had been cleared off the Irish goal line to make it 2-1. Ireland refused to fold. Niamh Carey, outstanding throughout, won a penalty corner and then deflected in the equaliser to make it 2-2, sending the match into a tense final quarter with everything still to play for.
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Ireland were the better side in the closing stages, but lost two players to green cards that disrupted their momentum at the worst possible time. With five minutes remaining, Spain captain Giné stepped up to fire in the winner from another penalty corner — goalkeeper Elizabeth Murphy diving full-length but unable to keep it out.
Ireland captain Sarah Hawkshaw was measured in defeat but clear-eyed about the task ahead: “We were very disappointed with our second quarter. We thought we started quite well, and in the second half we dominated most of the momentum of the game. Really happy with how we fought back and gave ourselves multiple opportunities to win that game, but disappointed with how we didn’t get over the line.” Ireland must now beat New Zealand on Tuesday to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Spain advance with three points and the confidence of a side that held their nerve when it mattered most.
Pool Standings After Day 2 — Women’s Tournament
Pool C: Belgium 3 pts (played 1), Spain 3 pts (played 1), Ireland 0 pts (played 1), New Zealand 0 pts (played 1)
Pool D: England 3 pts (played 1), South Africa 0 pts (played 1); China 1 pt, India 1 pt (from Day 2 draw)
Day 2 Women’s Results — FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 (August 16)
Belgium 5–2 New Zealand (Pool C, Wavre) Scorers — Belgium: Stephanie Vanden Borre 9′, Emma Puvrez 12′, Charlotte Englebert 22′, Justine Rasir 41′, 47′. New Zealand: Katie Doar 4′, Hannah Cotter 33′
Spain 3–2 Ireland (Pool C, Wavre) Scorers — Spain: Laia Vidosa 23′, Sofia Keenan 38′, Xantal Giné 55′. Ireland: Hannah McLoughlin (PC), Niamh Carey (PC)
England 4–0 South Africa (Pool D, Amstelveen) Scorers — England: Darcy Bourne 10′, Tessa Howard 14′, Lizzie Neal 30′, Sophie Hamilton 41′
