FIH Women’s World Cup 2026: Argentina beat history-making co-hosts Netherlands 3-1 in a penalty shootout to clinch the title in a thrilling final match of the Women’s Hockey World Cup. With this, the Dutch team’s dream of winning a fourth consecutive World Cup title was shattered. Argentina avenged their previous defeat with this victory and lifted the World Cup trophy for the third time. Notably, Netherlands defeated Argentina 3-1 in the final of the last World Cup. Argentina previously won the World Cup in 2002 and 2010, while nine-time champions Netherlands missed out on a golden opportunity to win the title for the 10th time.

After the match was tied 1-1 at full time, the winner was decided by a penalty shootout. Argentina’s players showed incredible composure in the orange-lit Wagner Stadium. In the shootout, Victoria Granato, Brisa Brugesser and Sofia Cairo scored well-marked goals for Argentina, while Díaz Jo’s goal was disallowed. On the other hand, the Netherlands team, playing on home ground, came under pressure. Only Vin Marin managed to score from the Dutch team, while PN Sanders, Felice Albers and Moise Frack failed to score.

A terrific first quarter

The first 15 minutes of the match were very even, with both teams testing each other’s strength and defence. The Netherlands had their first serious attack in the 8th minute when Marlin Jochems accurately delivered the ball into the Argentine circle, but no Dutch player was there to finish it off. Two minutes later, PN Sanders once again broke into Argentina’s D, but the ball was safely cleared by Argentina’s strong defenders. In the 13th minute, Argentina’s Miranda Victoria tried to break the Dutch defense but failed, while Dutch forward PN Dijk missed a goal on the counter attack.

The Netherlands took the lead in the second quarter

In the fourth minute of the second quarter, Jan de Waard, the Netherlands’ most experienced player and playing his 252nd match, took possession of the ball brilliantly from the middle of the field. He made a perfect pass to Vine Marin who was moving down the right, but Vine lost control of the ball. However, in the last minute (30th minute) before the half time break, the Netherlands were awarded the first penalty corner of the match. YB Jensen, the world’s number one drag flicker, scored his 8th goal of the tournament with a powerful drag-flick to give the team a 1-0 lead.

Argentina’s penalty corner failed

After the break, Argentina tried aggressively to fight back. Argentina got their first penalty corner in the 33rd minute, but their variation failed. Two minutes later, Argentina were awarded another penalty corner after captain Maria Granato was fouled inside the D, but veteran Dutch goalkeeper Anne Veenendaal brilliantly saved Augustina Gorzelani’s powerful shot. Argentina were awarded two consecutive penalty corners in the final two minutes of the third quarter, but poor trapping and a lack of finishing saw Argentina miss a golden opportunity to score when Souze Victoria kicked the ball wide of the goalpost.

High-voltage drama till the last minute

In the fourth quarter, Argentina stepped up all their attacks. Eugenia Trinchinetti dribbled past 3 Dutch defenders and delivered a beautiful pass to captain Granato, but she could not keep control of the ball. The Netherlands got a third penalty corner in the 50th minute but Frederik Malta’s shot went wide. Argentina got their sixth, seventh and eventually eighth penalty corner of the match on the counter-attack in the 54th minute. In the eighth penalty corner, the Dutch goalkeeper slipped on the pitch to save Gorzellani’s flick and captain Maria Granato, standing right of the goal post, tapped the rebound into the net for a sensational 1-1 draw. The goal sent the match to a penalty shootout, where Argentina were crowned world champions.