Ireland Women Finish with a Win as Men Chase Historic Ninth Place

One campaign ends on a high. One final World Cup challenge remains.

Sometimes the final table only tells a fraction of the story.

Following a 1–0 victory over South Africa, the Ireland Women have completed their 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup campaign in 13th place. The Ireland Men still have one final match to play, a ninth-place play-off against New Zealand.

There has been disappointment, of course. Both teams narrowly missed out on places in the championship top eight, with several matches decided by the smallest of margins.

But across the 11 matches played so far, Ireland have also produced comebacks, huge performances against some of the world’s best, four memorable World Cup victories and more than a few moments that had Irish supporters on the edge of their seats.

Ireland’s women signed off with a win and a clean sheet. Ireland’s men have already guaranteed their best-ever World Cup finish, with ninth place still within reach.

There is one more Irish match to play.

Ireland Women: Finishing on a High

Ireland 2–3 Spain
Ireland 3–2 New Zealand
Ireland 1–2 Belgium
Ireland 1–2 Scotland
Ireland 1–3 USA
Ireland 1–0 South Africa

Ireland’s women opened their World Cup with an absolute battle against Spain.

Twice Ireland fell behind. Twice they found a way back, through penalty-corner goals from Hannah McLoughlin and Niamh Carey, before Spain struck from a late penalty-corner rebound to snatch a 3–2 victory with less than five minutes remaining.

It was a painful result, but also an immediate reminder that this Irish side could go toe-to-toe with the teams around them on the world stage.

Two days later came the response.

Against New Zealand, captain Sarah Hawkshaw put Ireland ahead before the Black Sticks levelled. Our Team UP Founder Róisín Upton restored the Irish lead from the penalty spot and Katie Mullan then produced the crucial touch on another impressive delivery from Róisín to make it 3–1.

New Zealand pulled one back from a penalty corner in the final minute, but Ireland stood firm to secure a huge 3–2 World Cup victory and three vital points.

That set up a decisive final Pool C game against hosts Belgium.

For a long time, Ireland looked capable of producing the result they needed.

Charlotte Beggs gave Ireland a first-quarter lead against the World No. 3 side, and Ireland were then initially awarded a penalty stroke that could have doubled the advantage before the decision was overturned following a referral.

Ireland carried that 1–0 lead into the final quarter.

But backed by their home crowd, Belgium eventually found a way through, scoring twice in the final 11 minutes to win 2–1 and end Ireland’s hopes of progressing into the championship top eight.

It was heartbreak, but it was also another performance that showed just how small the margins are at this level.

Pool H: Two More Tough Tests

The move into Pool H brought two more challenging matches against Scotland and the USA.

Scotland made the quicker start in the opening game and took the lead when Ellie Mackenzie deflected home from a sixth-minute penalty corner.

Emily Kealy reacted quickest to a saved Christina Hamill effort to bring Ireland level in the 26th minute, but Scotland restored their advantage early in the third quarter through a superb Charlotte Watson strike.

Ireland pushed for another response, but Scotland held firm to take a 2–1 victory.

That left Ireland needing a win against the USA to keep their hopes of reaching the ninth-place play-off alive.

The game started brightly.

Aisling Utri fired a dangerous reverse-stick ball into the circle and Niamh Carey produced a brilliant one-handed deflection to give Ireland a first-quarter lead.

The USA equalised shortly before half-time through Lucy Adams before a Mia Schoenbeck penalty corner put them ahead in the third quarter. Abigail Tamer added a third in the final quarter to complete a 3–1 comeback victory.

The result left Ireland third in Pool H and set up a final classification match against South Africa.

A Winning Finish Against South Africa

Ireland went into today’s 13th/14th-place match determined to finish their campaign on a positive note—and they did exactly that.

After an energetic opening, the breakthrough arrived in the first quarter.

Niamh Carey drove purposefully down the left, entered the circle and delivered a perfectly weighted ball towards the back post, where her twin sister Michelle was waiting to turn it into the net.

Ireland created opportunities to extend the lead, including three second-quarter penalty corners, while Caoimhe Perdue went close after the interval.

South Africa continued to threaten, however, and withdrew their goalkeeper with five minutes remaining in search of an equaliser.

The final test came in the last minute when South Africa won a penalty corner. Lizzy Murphy stepped up to clear the danger and preserve Ireland’s clean sheet.

Ireland 1–0 South Africa.

Niamh Carey was named Player of the Match, Ireland secured their second victory of the tournament and the team finished the World Cup in 13th place.

It was not the placing they had set out to achieve, but it was a determined and deserved way to bring their campaign to a close.

Ireland Men: A World Cup Win 48 Years in the Making

Ireland 1–3 Australia
Ireland 4–1 South Africa
Ireland 1–3 Spain
Ireland 7–4 Malaysia
Ireland 1–2 France

For the Ireland Men, simply stepping onto the World Cup pitch was significant.

This is the team’s first appearance at the tournament in eight years, and they opened against one of world hockey’s traditional powerhouses, Australia.

Three Australian penalty-corner goals in the opening half left Ireland with a mountain to climb, but Ali Empey pulled one back and Ireland produced a much stronger second-half performance in the 3–1 defeat.

Then came a night to remember.

Against South Africa, Ireland fell behind in the third quarter before Ben Walker levelled. Lee Cole then ripped home two penalty corners before Sam Hyland added a fourth in the closing stages.

Ireland 4–1 South Africa.

More than just three points, it was the Ireland Men’s first victory at an FIH Hockey World Cup since 1978.

Ireland went into their final Pool C fixture knowing that a point against Spain would be enough to secure a top-two finish and keep their semi-final hopes alive.

Spain struck first through Nicolas Alvarez, but Lee Cole calmly converted a penalty stroke to make it 1–1 and leave the contest—and Ireland’s World Cup ambitions—finely balanced.

The decisive moments came in the final quarter.

Marc Reyne scored twice to give Spain a 3–1 victory, taking second place in the pool and sending Ireland into the classification stage instead.

It was a tough ending to the opening phase, but this Irish team had already shown on its return to the World Cup that it belongs at this level.

Seven Goals and a Night to Remember

Ireland’s response against Malaysia was emphatic.

Jonny Lynch opened the scoring with a reverse-stick strike before adding a second at the back post. Matthew Nelson then finished off a flowing Irish attack and Lynch completed his hat-trick to give Ireland a commanding 4–0 lead.

Malaysia pulled one back before half-time and continued to threaten after the break, but Ireland kept finding answers.

Johnny McKee touched home from a penalty-corner variation, Nelson added his second and Ben Walker completed Ireland’s scoring in a breathless 7–4 victory.

It was Ireland’s second World Cup win in three games and put them in control of Pool H.

The final Pool H match against France was another close contest.

After a scoreless opening half, Jeremy Duncan stole possession, rounded the French goalkeeper and fired Ireland into the lead from a tight angle.

France responded through Victor Charlet before Timothée Clément found the winner with less than two minutes remaining.

Ireland lost the match 2–1, but the results across Pool H meant they still finished top of the group.

That secured Ireland’s place in the ninth-place play-off and guaranteed the team its best-ever finish at an FIH Hockey World Cup.

Ninth Place Is Now Within Reach

Ireland will finish their campaign against New Zealand, who booked their place in the play-off with a 4–2 victory over Pakistan.

Friday, August 28
New Zealand v Ireland
1:00pm Irish time
Belfius Hockey Arena, Wavre

It is a fitting final challenge for a team that has already made history at this tournament.

One more match. One more opportunity. And the chance to secure Ireland’s highest-ever World Cup placing.

One Last Push

World Cups are supposed to test you.

Games can turn on one penalty corner, one referral, one tackle or a few minutes of momentum.

Both Irish teams have experienced the highs and lows of tournament hockey over the past two weeks. They have celebrated huge victories, responded to difficult results and continued to fight for every possible finishing place.

For every young hockey player watching from the stands, following from home or joining in with the activities on our UP World Cup Hub, this is part of sport too: enjoying the experience, responding to disappointment and finding the energy to go again.

Ireland Women have finished their campaign with a victory and a clean sheet against South Africa.

Ireland Men now have the opportunity to complete a historic campaign by securing ninth place against New Zealand.

There is one Irish match left—and we’ll be behind the team every step of the way.

Team UP ☘️