AMSTELVEEN: Pakistan defeated South Africa 4-3 in a penalty shootout on Friday to finish 11th at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 at Wagener Stadium.
The result gave Pakistan their best World Cup finish in 20 years. The national side had finished 12th in the 2010 and 2018 editions and failed to qualify for the 2014 and 2023 tournaments.
Pakistan’s previous best finish came in 2006, when the team secured sixth place.
How did Pakistan complete the comeback?
South Africa took control early, with Trevor de Lora opening the scoring in the eighth minute before Dayaan Cassiem doubled the lead three minutes into the second quarter.
Pakistan responded before halftime through Afraz and Mohammad Ammad to level the score at 2-2.
Rana Waheed Ashraf then put Pakistan ahead early in the third quarter, but South Africa restored parity through Mustaphaa Cassiem in the 40th minute.
South Africa appeared to move ahead again when Mustaphaa converted a penalty corner in the 55th minute.
Pakistan responded in the final minute through Muhammad Hammaduddin to level the match at 4-4 and force a penalty shootout.
Who secured Pakistan’s victory in the shootout?
Both teams converted their opening two attempts, with Zikriya Hayat and Umar Mustafa scoring for Pakistan.
South Africa then missed two consecutive attempts through Hans Neethling and Jamie Seales, while Hannan Shahid converted for Pakistan to put the Green Shirts ahead.
Rana Waheed Ashraf missed an opportunity to seal the match, allowing Mustaphaa to score and level the shootout at 3-3.
The decisive attempt fell to former Pakistan captain Ammad Butt, who converted under pressure to secure the victory and an 11th-place finish for Pakistan.