Pakistan secured an 11th-place finish at the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup after edging South Africa 4-3 in a penalty shootout following an enthralling 4-4 draw in regulation time at the Wagener Stadium on Friday.
The result marked an improvement for the Green Shirts, who had finished 12th in the 2010 and 2018 editions. Pakistan had missed the 2023 World Cup and returned to the tournament hoping to make a deeper run.
Against South Africa, Pakistan found themselves chasing the game early. Trevor de Lora put South Africa ahead in the eighth minute before Dayaan Cassiem doubled the lead three minutes into the second quarter.
The Green Shirts responded strongly, with Afraz and Mohammad Ammad scoring to bring Pakistan level at 2-2 before half-time.
Pakistan then took the lead early in the third quarter when Rana Waheed Ashraf found the net. South Africa hit back through Mustaphaa Cassiem in the 40th minute to make it 3-3.
In the final quarter, Mustaphaa scored again from a penalty corner in the 55th minute to restore South Africa’s lead, but with the clock running down, Muhammad Hammaduddin scored in the final minute to make it 4-4 and force the match into a shootout.
Ammad Butt keeps his nerve
Both sides converted their opening two attempts before South Africa faltered. Hans Neethling and Jamie Seales missed their next efforts, while Hannan Shahid converted for Pakistan to put the Green Shirts 3-2 ahead.
Pakistan then had the chance to seal victory, but Rana Waheed Ashraf missed, allowing Mustaphaa to convert South Africa’s final attempt and level the shootout at 3-3.
That left the result in the hands of former Pakistan captain Ammad Butt.
The veteran held his nerve under pressure, finding the back of the net with the decisive attempt to seal a dramatic 4-3 shootout victory and send Pakistan home with an 11th-place finish.
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