Lionel Messi 900 goals came early in the night, a quick and classy finish bringing up the milestone as Chase Stadium erupted, only for the mood to later turn into an Inter Miami CCC exit.

<a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/lionel-messi-white-house-visit-inter-miami-mls-cup-celebration/4119-5-0">Messi</a>, sitting on 899 before kickoff, wasted no time. He glided into space, shaped his body, and buried it low. As always, he hit a classic goal, and the fans started to cheer instantly.

<h2>Nashville flip the script late</h2>

Inter Miami held control for long stretches. The ball moved well, chances came, but the second goal never arrived. That gap kept Nashville alive. Not many expected what followed.

Cristian Espinoza struck back after the break. One opening with a clean hit and silence followed.

That one moment flipped everything. With the tie level, the away goals rule kicked in. Suddenly, Inter Miami CCC exit became real. Players looked around, almost searching for answers that weren&rsquo;t there. You could see the frustration written across faces.

Messi&rsquo;s milestone still stands tall. Lionel Messi 900 goals now place him alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the club; only two men have reached this milestone. The Argentine got there quicker too, needing fewer matches, which says plenty.

Most of those strikes came during his Barcelona years. Goals piled up, season after season. Then Paris, now Miami, and of course Argentina. The numbers stretch across eras. Still, nights like this carry mixed feelings.

The scoreline said one thing, but the moment felt different. Messi walked off without a scene, just a quiet look back at the pitch. Milestone reached, but the night still left something missing. That&rsquo;s football sometimes.

Messi reaches 900 goals in style, but Inter Miami bow out of the CCC after Nashville strike back in a tense second leg.

Historic 900th Goal for Messi Ends in Miami Exit Blow

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has released the match schedule for the 2026 Hockey World Cup, set to be staged across Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30. The tournament will open in Amstelveen, where India national field hockey team face Wales national field hockey team.

Pakistan national field hockey team begin their campaign later the same day with a match against England national field hockey team. Their second fixture will be against Wales before a key group-stage clash with India on August 19, one of the most anticipated matches in the early phase of the competition.

<h2>Pool Structure and Qualification Format</h2>

The 16-team tournament has been divided into four pools following an official draw held at the Wagener Hockey Stadium. Hosts Netherlands headline Pool A, while co-hosts Belgium are placed in Pool B alongside defending champions Germany.

<a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/pakistan-team-qualifies-for-fih-hockey-world-cup-2026/4135-5-0">Pakistan</a> are grouped in Pool D with India, England and Wales, making it one of the more competitive sections. Australia, Spain, Ireland and South Africa form Pool C.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the next round, where they will be split into two new pools. Teams progressing from Pools A and D will combine in one group, while qualifiers from Pools B and C will form the other.

<h2>Knockout Stage and Final Venue</h2>

The competition will move into the knockout phase after the second group stage, with the top two sides from each pool advancing to the semi-finals. The final is scheduled to be played at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre on August 30.

Officials including FIH president Tayyab Ikram were present during the draw ceremony, marking the formal start of preparations for the global event.

The FIH has officially announced the 2026 Hockey World Cup schedule. Pakistan joins India, England, and Wales in a high-stakes Pool D battle starting August 15.

FIH Releases Pakistan's Hockey World Cup 2026 Schedule

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced a Rs1.5 million cash prize for each member of the Pakistan hockey team. 
 
A positive gesture to recognise the team&rsquo;s effort in securing Hockey World Cup 2026 qualification.

The decision followed Pakistan&rsquo;s tense <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/pakistan-team-qualifies-for-fih-hockey-world-cup-2026/4135-5-0">4-3 win</a> over Japan in Egypt last week. It was the kind of match that kept shifting. Japan pushed hard, Pakistan answered back. Then came the late goal that settled it.&nbsp;

This is the most deserving reward for a sport that once defined Pakistan on the global stage, the moment carries weight.

<h2>A lift for Pakistan hockey</h2>

The Pakistan hockey team has spent years trying to climb back. Pakistan lost big tournaments and the rankings dropped. For long stretches, results simply didn&rsquo;t go their way.

That is why the recent <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/sports/fih-hockey-world-cup-qualifiers-2026/331/1">Hockey World Cup 2026 qualification</a> stands out. It comes after months of setbacks and noise around the team, including players speaking out about issues during the Australia tour earlier this year.

Yet the past still carries weight. Pakistan once dominated this game. Olympic gold in 1960, 1968 and 1984. World Cup triumphs in 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994. Players like Shahbaz Ahmed and Samiullah Khan made the green shirt feared on the world stage.

Now comes the tougher part. Qualifying was one step forward. Bringing Pakistan hockey back to where it once stood will take far more.

PM Shehbaz Sharif announces Rs1.5m reward for each player after Pakistan hockey team seals Hockey World Cup 2026 qualification.

PM Shehbaz Sharif Announces Rs1.5m Reward For Hockey Team After Qualifier

England defeated Pakistan convincingly in the final of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. They won the match by a scoreline of 4-1, as the green shirts failed to match their momentum at the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Hockey Stadium in Ismailia.

Both teams played strongly in the first quarter of the game, as neither managed to find the net until the end of the first fifteen minutes.

England then came back sharply in the second quarter by scoring a goal in the 18th minute. It was Henry Croft&rsquo;s brilliance that helped them to get the breakthrough, as the Pakistan hockey team started to lose momentum towards the end of the quarter.

The green shirts then got a penalty corner in the third quarter, but couldn&rsquo;t take advantage of it. However, England utilized this setback to put more pressure on Pakistan by scoring two back-to-back goals. As a result, they finished the third quarter with a commanding lead of 3-0 over the green shirts.

The fourth quarter showcased intense competition between both teams, as Pakistan scored their first goal of the match in the 42nd minute. Taking advantage of the momentum, they kept attacking afterwards, but a strong defence of the English team didn&rsquo;t allow them to find more breakthroughs.

Meanwhile, England created another opportunity in the 47th minute, as Ben Fox struck furiously to give them a lead over Pakistan by 4-1. The green shirts tried their best to level the scoreline, but failed to find more breakthroughs.

As a result, England won the final of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers convincingly, while the Pakistan hockey team finished their campaign as the runners-up of the tournament. It was indeed a successful event for them in which they produced special performances to qualify for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026.&nbsp;

England defeated Pakistan by 4-1 to win the FIH World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Ismailia. They delivered a strong performance in the final to down the spirited Pakistan team.

England Outclass Pakistan to Seal FIH World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Crown

Pakistan&rsquo;s interior minister and chairman of the PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, applauded the brilliance of the hockey team for securing a spot in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. He said the team performed remarkably well in the tournament, which proved they have plenty of talent in their ranks.

&quot;This success is the result of the teamwork and hard work of the players. This win proves that Pakistan has hockey talent.&quot; said Mohsin Naqvi in a statement.

Pakistan&rsquo;s achievement in the ongoing FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers is certainly remarkable because the green shirts have qualified for the mega tournament after a big gap of eight years. They <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/pakistan-team-qualifies-for-fih-hockey-world-cup-2026/4135-5-0">defeated</a> Japan in the semi-final by a scoreline of 4-3, as captain Ammad Butt and other players scored crucial goals to win a nail-biting contest at the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Hockey Stadium in Ismailia.

While praising the recent performances of the Pakistan hockey team in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, the PCB chairman expressed hope that the team would return home after winning the final against England as well. He has full confidence in the capabilities of the players, who have performed well in the tournament under less-than-ideal circumstances.

For the unversed, the Pakistan hockey team made headlines when it faced a serious accommodation crisis upon arriving in Australia to participate in the FIH Pro League recently. The situation became worse when the team captain Ammad Butt publicly slammed the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for mismanagement during the tour.

The matter quickly escalated to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, who ordered an inquiry to resolve the issue. The PHF president, Tariq Bugti, eventually stepped down from his position, while captain Ammad Butt was handed a two-year ban by the federation.

However, the arrival of interim president Mohiuddin Wani settled the crisis a bit, as the ban on captain Ammad Butt was subsequently lifted. Afterwards, Mohsin Naqvi met with the players to show his full support, during which he also distributed cheques of Rs1 million each to the team members.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi praised the performance of the hockey team after they secured qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026.

Pakistan Hockey Team Receives Praise from PCB Chairman Naqvi

Pakistan have qualified for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 after defeating Japan by a scoreline of 4-3 in the semi-finals of the ongoing Qualifiers. This is a big achievement for the national team, as they have qualified for the mega tournament after a long period of eight years.

The Pakistan hockey team started the match on a strong note, as captain Ammad Butt scored the first goal in the 9th minute. It gave a great advantage to the Pakistan team, as Japan remained under pressure during the first quarter. The lead remained intact with the green shirts till the end, but then Japan&rsquo;s Ryoma Ooka came up with a neutralizer in the 21st minute to level the scores.

Japan then scored back-to-back goals in the third quarter to take a strong lead, as Shota Yamada and Koji Yamasaki struck in quick succession to make the scoreline 3-1. It brought great pressure on Pakistan, as they were left with only one quarter to make the difference.

The Pakistan hockey team backed themselves and came up with a resolute performance in the last quarter to stun the Japanese team. They scored three consecutive goals in the fourth quarter, with Abu Mahmood, Sufyan Khan, and Afraz finding the net in the 52nd, 55th and 57th minutes, respectively.

Japan then came up with various aggressive attacks to level the scores, but the Pakistan team held its nerves to defend the goal post until the final whistle. As a result, they won the match by a final scoreline of 4-3, securing a confirmed spot in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 that will be played in Belgium and Netherlands.

The victory against Japan marks Pakistan&rsquo;s fourth consecutive win in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, as the team remained unbeaten in the group stage. They will now face England in the final of the tournament, which will be played at the same venue on Saturday.

Pakistan defeated Japan by 4-3 in semi-finals to qualify for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. They have booked a spot in the mega tournament after a long gap of eight years.

Pakistan Book Place in FIH Hockey World Cup Following Semi-Final Triumph

Pakistan&#39;s hockey team showcased another dominant performance against Malaysia to reach the semi-finals of the FIH World Cup Qualifiers 2026. They defeated the spirited Malaysian team by 5-3, exhibiting their strong form in the ongoing tournament.

Malaysia made the initial breakthrough in the match when Abdul Rauf scored the first goal in the 11th minute. However, this lead didn&rsquo;t last long, as Pakistan&rsquo;s Rana Waheed responded with a sharp goal in the very next minute.

Malaysia then scored again in the last minute of the first quarter to take the lead, putting pressure on Pakistan to come up with a renewed plan in the second quarter.

Analyzing the gaps in the Malaysian defence, the Pakistan team started the second quarter on a high note, as Hayat Zikriya struck the second goal and levelled the scoreline. The third quarter was very competitive, as Malaysia scored their third goal in the 39th minute before Pakistan&rsquo;s Ahmed Nadeem came up with an equalizer in the 44th minute.

The green shirts then took a big lead in the last quarter, as Sufyan Khan and Muhammad Ammad scored consecutive goals to dent the hopes of the Malaysian team. It eventually allowed Pakistan to win the match by 5-3, and secure a confirmed place in the semi-finals of the FIH World Cup Qualifiers 2026.

Talking about the qualification scenario, the top four teams from the ongoing tournament will get confirmed spots in the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup that will be hosted by Belgium and Netherlands. Therefore, the green shirts are aiming to perform strongly in the current tournament, as it will strengthen their case for the upcoming marquee event.

Pakistan’s hockey team secured a place in the semi-final of the FIH World Cup Qualifiers 2026 by defeating Malaysia in the recent clash.

Pakistan Through to FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers Semi-Final Stage

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/contentCategorythumb/1764845896_1600x2130.jpg

FIH Pro League 2025/26

Watch FIH Pro League 2025/26 full match highlights Australia vs India in HD online on tapmad. India and Australia finished 1–1 in regular time, and the match was decided by a penalty shootout, in which India emerged victorious 3–1 to win the game. Australia scored first but India equalised and ultimately won in the shootout, making India the winners and Australia the losers of this encounter. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1772456997_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - Australia vs India - Highlights

Watch FIH Pro League 2025/26 full match highlights Australia Women vs China Women in HD online on tapmad. China Women defeated Australia Women 3–1 in their FIH Pro League match, leaving the Hockeyroos on the losing side. China Women won, and Australia Women lost the encounter. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1772456753_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - Australia Women vs China Women - Highlights

Watch FIH Pro League 2025/26 full match highlights Spain vs India in HD online on tapmad. Spain and India finished 1–1 in regulation time, but Spain won the penalty shootout 4–3, earning the victory and the bonus point. India scored first but couldn’t hold the lead, and India lost the match. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1772456391_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - Spain vs India - Highlights

Watch FIH Pro League 2025/26 full match highlights Spain Women vs China Women in HD online on tapmad. China Women and Spain Women finished 2–2 in regular time, and China Women won the match 4–3 in the shootout to claim the extra point. Spain Women drew level but ultimately lost in the shootout, while China Women were the winners. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1772455786_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - Spain Women vs China Women - Highlights

Watch FIH Pro League 2025/26 full match highlights Australia vs Spain in HD online on tapmad. Spain came from behind to draw 2–2 with Australia in regular time and then won the shootout 2–1, claiming the victory. Australia had led early but ultimately lost the match to Spain. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1772455395_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - Australia vs Spain - Highlights

Watch FIH Pro League 2025/26 full match highlights Australia Women vs Spain Women in HD online on tapmad. Spain Women came from behind to draw 2–2 with Australia Women in regular time and won 2–1 in the shootout, claiming the victory. Australia Women led early but ultimately lost the match. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1772455018_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - Australia Women vs Spain Women - Highlights

FIH Pro League 2025/26 match between Australia vs India  on 22 February 2026 ended with Australia winning 5–4 at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium. Australia showcased strong attacking play throughout while India fought back valiantly but ultimately fell short. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full match highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771958938_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH Pro League 2025/26 match between Australia Women vs China Women on 22 February 2026 ended with China winning 3–1 at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium. Australia showcased strong attacking play throughout while China fought back valiantly but ultimately fell short. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full match highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771958640_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH Pro League 2025/26 match between India vs Spain on 21 February 2026 ended with Spain winning 2–0 at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium. Spain showcased strong attacking play throughout while India fought back valiantly but ultimately fell short. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full match highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771850534_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH Pro League 2025/26 match between China vs Spain on 21 February 2026 ended with China winning 3–0 at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium. China showcased strong attacking play throughout while Spain fought back valiantly but ultimately fell short. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full match highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771847651_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - China Women vs Spain Women - Highlights

FIH Pro League 2025/26 match between Australia vs Spain on 20 February 2026 ended with Australia winning 3–1 at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium. Australia showcased strong attacking play throughout while Spain fought back valiantly but ultimately fell short. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full match highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771846814_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH Pro League 2025/26 match between Australia vs Spain on 20 February 2026 ended with Spain winning 4–1 at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium. Spain showcased strong attacking play throughout while Australia fought back valiantly but ultimately fell short. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full match highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771847296_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH Pro League 2025/26 match between Argentina and Belgium on 13 February 2026 ended with Belgium winning 5–3 at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium. Belgium showcased strong attacking play throughout while Argentina fought back valiantly but ultimately fell short. The game featured a total of eight goals, making it an exciting and high‑scoring encounter. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full match highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771504948_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - Argentina vs Belgium - Highlights

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 women’s match between Argentina and Ireland on 13 February 2026 saw Argentina prevail 2‑1. Ireland opened the scoring early, but Argentina equalised and then took the lead in the second half, securing the victory with goals from Maria Granatto and Agustina Gorzelany. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full match highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771504295_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - Argentina Women vs Ireland Women - Highlights

FIH Pro League 2025/26 match between Australia and Pakistan on 13 February 2026 saw the hosts Australia win 3–0 in a commanding performance. Australia’s Blake Govers scored twice to lead the Kookaburras’ attack, while Pakistan were unable to find the net throughout the contest. The result reflected Australia’s strong form in the Pro League and a difficult outing for Pakistan. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full match highlights in HD online on tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771504075_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - Australia vs Pakistan - Highlights

In the FIH Pro League clash on 12 February 2026, India men's national field hockey team were comprehensively beaten by Argentina men's national field hockey team, who ran out 8-0 winners in Rourkela. Argentina dominated from start to finish, with Tomas Domene scoring four goals in a relentless display. India struggled to convert chances and couldn’t respond to the visitors’ firepower. The heavy defeat was a tough outing for India in their Pro League campaign. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full highlights in HD online on Tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771424415_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - India vs Argentina - Highlights

In the FIH Pro League 2025/26 match on 12 February 2026, Australia women's national field hockey team hosted Ireland women's national field hockey team in Hobart. After a competitive game, Ireland held Australia to a draw in regulation time and then clinched the bonus point via a shootout win. The result marked a strong performance from Ireland against the hosts and valuable Pro League points for them. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full highlights in HD online on Tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771424860_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - Australia Women vs Ireland Women - Highlights

In the FIH Pro League 2025/26 action on 12 February 2026, Australia men's national field hockey team produced a dominant display to defeat Germany men's national field hockey team, field hockey team 3-0 in their Pro League matchup. Australia controlled the game from start to finish with solid attacking play and tight defence. Germany struggled to convert chances and couldn’t respond as the hosts kept a clean sheet. The result gave Australia important momentum in the league standings. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full highlights in HD online on Tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771423173_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - Australia vs Germany - Highlights

In the FIH Pro League 2025/26 match on 11 February 2026, Pakistan men's national field hockey team hosted Germany men's national field hockey team in Hobart. Germany took control early and secured a 5 – 2 victory with consistent pressure and clinical finishing. Pakistan fought hard and scored twice but couldn’t keep up with the German attack. The result added important points to Germany’s Pro League campaign while Pakistan remained winless. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full highlights in HD online on Tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771422543_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - Pakistan vs Germany - Highlights

In the FIH Pro League 2025/26 clash on 11 February 2026 at Rourkela, India’s men’s hockey team put up a spirited fight but ultimately lost 3-1 to Belgium. India took the lead through Shilanand Lakra, but Belgium struck back in the second half with clinical finishing to seal the win. The visitors controlled possession and capitalized on key chances, while India showed resilience but couldn’t find an equalizer. The result adds valuable points to Belgium’s Pro League campaign. Watch FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 full highlights in HD online on Tapmad.

https://d34080pnh6e62j.cloudfront.net/images/NewVideoOnDemandThumb/1771422972_324x432-vod.jpg

FIH PRO LEAGUE 2025/26 - India vs Belgium - Highlights

FIH Pro League 2025/26

FIH Pro League 2025/26 - Highlights

Blogs