AMSTELVEEN: Pakistan ended a 16-year wait for an FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup victory on Saturday, beating Japan 4-3 in a 9th-16th place classification match at Wagener Stadium.
Hannan Shahid scored the decisive goal in the 40th minute after Japan had twice taken the lead in a seven-goal contest.
Japan went 2-0 ahead in the first quarter through Hyota Yamada and Kaito Tanaka. Rana Waheed Ashraf pulled one back for Pakistan before halftime.
Ashraf equalised two minutes into the third quarter before Muhammad Hammadudin struck a minute later to put Pakistan 3-2 ahead.
Koji Yamasaki responded for Japan two minutes later to make it 3-3, but Shahid restored Pakistan’s advantage, and neither side scored again.
A brilliant run from Ammad Butt and a superb finish by Hannan Shahid sealed Pakistan’s first-ever Hockey World Cup win in 6,017 days! 🇵🇰🏑#Pakistan #Hockey https://t.co/Uq7SsZwyyS pic.twitter.com/X464419spf
— JF-17 Lover (@Abdulla10903006) August 22, 2026The result gave the Pakistan hockey team its first World Cup win since a 2-1 victory over Spain at the 2010 tournament.
Pakistan entered the classification round after failing to advance from the main stage. Their earlier results included a defeat to England and a 3-3 draw against Wales.
Read: Pakistan-India Hockey: India Win 5-3, Knock Pakistan Out
The team is competing at its first World Cup since 2018 after missing the previous edition.
