ISMALIA, Egypt: Pakistan’s men’s hockey team are just one victory away from securing their first World Cup appearance since 2018, with a high-stakes semi-final clash against Japan awaiting them on Friday at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Egypt.
The Green Shirts will take on Japan at the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Hockey Stadium, knowing that a win would immediately book their passage to the World Cup and bring an end to an eight-year absence from hockey’s premier event.
Tough road ahead if green shirts stumble
Should Pakistan fail to overcome their Japanese opponents, the qualification pathway becomes significantly more complicated.
The team would then be forced into the third-place play-off, and defeat in that match would leave their fate hanging in the balance, dependent on results from the parallel qualifying tournament currently taking place in Chile.
From both the Egyptian and Chilean qualifying events, the top three finishers will secure World Cup berths.
An additional slot will be awarded to the highest-ranked team that has not already qualified, placing Pakistan in a precarious position given that both France and Ireland, competing in Chile, currently hold superior world rankings.
Captain vows to gift qualification to nation
Ahead of Friday’s decisive encounter, Pakistan captain Ammad Butt spoke with confidence about his side’s objectives and the positive atmosphere within the squad.
“Pakistan is just one step away from the World Cup. With the team’s high morale, winning the semi-final against Japan is our first goal, and by qualifying, we will give a gift to the nation,” Butt stated.
The captain was quick to acknowledge the support system behind the team’s resurgence.
“Three consecutive wins are a testament to the players’ dedication. Thanks to Mohsin Naqvi, the Government of Pakistan, and the world-class facilities provided, the team delivered its best performance,” he added.
Attacking firepower fuels Pakistan’s campaign
Pakistan’s journey to the semi-finals has been characterised by aggressive, free-scoring hockey.
The Green Shirts opened their campaign with a thrilling 5-4 victory over China, courtesy of a double strike from Rana Waheed.
They followed this with an impressive 5-3 triumph over regional rivals Malaysia, before rounding off the group stage in emphatic fashion with a 4-2 victory over Austria, where Abu Mahmood found the net twice to cap off a dominant group-stage performance.
With momentum firmly on their side, Pakistan now face their toughest test yet against Japan, with a World Cup berth and national pride hanging in the balance.
