Germany Beat Argentina To Reach FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Final

Germany moved one-step closer to defending their FIH Hockey World Cup crown after beating Argentina 2-1 in a tightly contested semi-final at the Belfius Hockey Arena. The result sends the defending champions into another World Cup final, where they will meet Spain for the title on Sunday.

The match was far from an open contest in the early stages, with both teams showing plenty of caution and giving little away in front of goal. Argentina worked hard to restrict Germany's attacking options, while the Germans struggled to find a clear route through a disciplined defence.

Germany finally found the breakthrough early in the second half. In the 33rd minute, Moritz Ludwig sent the ball into the danger area and Weigand got enough of a touch to redirect it past the Argentine defence and put Germany ahead.

Argentina did not allow the setback to change the way they approached the game. They continued to look for openings and eventually found their equalizer early in the final quarter. Tomas Domene stepped up for a penalty corner and converted to make it 1-1, putting the pressure back on the German side.

The contest then took another turn when Argentina were reduced to 10 players after Lucio Mendez received a five-minute yellow card in the 50th minute. Germany immediately looked to exploit the extra space and increased their pressure around the Argentine circle.

That pressure eventually produced the winning goal. Ludwig played the ball towards Weigand, who managed to get it across the face of goal. Paul-Philipp Kaufmann was in the right position at the far post and turned the opportunity into Germany's second goal in the 54th minute.

Argentina had limited time to respond, but Germany remained organized during the closing stages. The South Americans were unable to create the clear chance they needed to force the match towards another outcome.

Weigand's performance proved particularly important for Germany, with the forward playing a part in both of his side's goals. He was subsequently named Player of the Match for his contribution.

The victory also gives Germany another opportunity to add to their World Cup record. Having won the previous edition, the Germans are now just one match away from successfully retaining their title.

Meanwhile, Spain still stands in the way of Germany to claim another championship trophy. The Spanish side produced the biggest result of the semi-final stage by defeating hosts Netherlands 4-3 in Amsterdam. Their victory means the final will feature a meeting between the defending champions and a Spanish team appearing in its first World Cup final since 1998.