Pakistan's Hockey Comeback Qualifier

This qualification ends an eight-year absence from the Men's FIH Hockey World Cup for Pakistan, a nation that holds a record four titles in the tournament's history (1971, 1978, 1982, 1994). The Green Shirts last participated in 2018, where they finished 12th, and failed to qualify for the 2014 and 2023 editions. The semifinal qualifier, held in Ismailia, Egypt, saw Pakistan trailing Japan 3-1 heading into the third quarter. Japan took control with quick goals from Shota Yamada and Koji Yamasaki after Ryoma Ooka had initially equalized. Pakistan's captain, Ammad Butt, had opened the scoring in the ninth minute of the match. Pakistan's dramatic turnaround began in the final quarter, with Abu Bakar Mahmood scoring in the 52nd minute. This was followed by goals from Sufyan Khan in the 55th minute and a final, decisive goal from Afraz in the 57th minute to seal the 4-3 victory. A critical moment came with just minutes left when Japan was awarded a penalty stroke, offering a golden chance to equalize. However, Pakistan's goalkeeper Ali Raza made a crucial save to deny Fujishima Raiki, preserving the narrow lead and securing the World Cup berth. The victory marked Pakistan's fourth consecutive win in the qualifying tournament, following victories over China (5-4), Malaysia (5-3), and Austria (4-2). The team advanced to the final of the qualifying event against England. This successful campaign is seen as a significant moment and a potential resurgence for the former hockey powerhouse. The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.