Argentina has made history by qualifying both its men's and women's national field hockey teams for the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, a feat that places the country among only two nations — alongside the Netherlands — to achieve this dual achievement.
The women's side, popularly called Las Leonas, secured their semifinal berth with a 0‑0 stalemate against Belgium, a result that allowed them to avoid a direct clash with the Dutch powerhouse. Earlier in the tournament they had edged Germany 1‑0 and recorded a convincing 3‑0 win over Spain, building momentum heading into the final four.
Argentina's men's team, after an opening‑round defeat to the Netherlands, rebounded strongly with a 5‑3 triumph over India, a performance that confirmed their place in the semifinals. The team has now reached the last four on two previous occasions in its 15 World Cup appearances, with a bronze medal in 2014 standing as their best prior result.
Semifinal Showdowns
The schedule for the upcoming semifinals is set: the women will meet Australia on August 27 at 3:30 p.m. Argentina time, while the men will face Germany later that same day at the same hour. Both matches promise high‑stakes competition as each side vies for a spot in the championship final.
Veteran player Cristina Cosentino, who contributed to Argentina's bronze‑medal campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, remains a key figure in the squad, bringing experience and tactical depth to the campaign.
Meanwhile, former teammate Gonzalo Peillat, who missed the tournament due to a knee injury, has taken a different path, switching allegiance to Germany in 2022, a move that adds an extra layer of intrigue to the men's semifinal.