Former Olympic champions Argentina have recorded a double by winning both the men’s and women’s titles in the Pan American Cup Hockey Tournaments, which concluded in Montevideo, Uruguay, on August 3, 2025. With the title triumphs of its teams, Argentina, the powerhouse of the Americas in hockey, has qualified for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cups for both men and women.
While the USA drew some consolation in making it to the 2026 FIH World Cup for women, Canada, by finishing third in the men’s section, will be missing the mega event of the FIH next year. In the women’s section, Canada failed to qualify for the semis.
In the men’s section, Canada beat Chile 2-1 to take the bronze. Earlier in a pool game, Canada had lost to Chile 0-2. Canada had several players of Indian origin. They included Roopkanwar Dhillon, Robin Thind, Balraj Panesar, Harbir Sidhu, Avjot Buttar, Manveer Jhamat, and Gavin Bains.
The USA had beaten Chile 3-1 in the penalty shootout after the semi-final game had ended in a 1-1 draw in the stipulated period. The USA was assisted by several players of Indian origin, including Ajai Dhadwal, Mehtab Grewal, and Jatin Sharma.
In the pool games, Argentina had beaten the US 3-0 and Canada 9-1. Belgium and the Netherlands will co-host the FIH World Cups for men and women in 2026.
In the Pan American Cup for men, Argentina defeated the USA 10-0 in the final to win the gold medal and secure qualification to the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands in 2026.
With one direct qualification spot available to the Americas at the upcoming World Cup, the winner of the final was assured qualification to the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026. Argentina, by securing a 10-0 win over the USA in the final, became the fifth team to book its place in hockey’s premier world event next year.
Argentina, placed in Pool A, went unbeaten through the tournament, winning all three of its pool matches, followed by wins in the semi-final and the final. It started off its campaign in perfect fashion, winning 13-0 against Brazil, and followed that up with a clinical 3-0 win over the USA, whom it would face in the final once again. A 12-0 win in the final pool match against hosts Uruguay secured the top spot in Pool A for Argentina, sending it through to the semi-final.
Argentina was pitted against Canada in the semi-final, which finished second in Pool B behind Chile. Argentina once again showed its continental supremacy, dispatching Canada in a 9-1 win, despite Canada scoring the first goal of the game. Tomas Domene, with 4 goals, and Nicolas Della Torre, with 3 goals, starred in the semi-final, taking Argentina one step closer to World Cup qualification.
The Leones were relentless on attack in the final and put the American defense to the sword, winning the contest with a massive 10-0 scoreline. Tomas Domene, Tadeo Marucci, and Bautista Capurro scored a brace each, with Nicolas Della Torre, Lucas Toscani, Lucas Martinez, and Lucio Mendez also getting on the scoresheet. The win gives Argentina its fourth consecutive and fifth overall title in the Pan American Cup and punches its ticket to the FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands in 2026.
Tournament top scorer Tomas Domene, who also made his 100th appearance for Argentina, said, “I am very happy, beyond anything else, to play and represent Argentina 100 times. I think that I am very emotional today, with the team having qualified for the World Cup, which was our objective from the start of the tournament. I think we had a great tournament; from start to finish, we showed who we are. We tried to give our best in every match, and I think that showed, and this result reflects that.”
Argentina has become the fifth men’s team to secure qualification to the FIH Hockey World Cup, Belgium & Netherlands 2026. Belgium and the Netherlands, on account of being hosts of the event, secured direct qualification. At the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24, it was Australia who qualified for the World Cup as champions of the season. Spain was the fourth team to secure its spot, finishing second behind the already qualified Netherlands in the 2024/25 season of the Pro League. Continental championships in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania over the coming months will determine four more direct qualifiers for the event, with the remaining seven teams qualifying through the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in 2026.
In the women’s competition, following their thrilling shootout win over Uruguay in the semi-finals, Argentina defeated the USA 3-0 in the final. USA women have secured qualification to the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands in 2026.
Argentina had already qualified for the upcoming World Cup through a second-place finish behind the already qualified Netherlands at the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25. So, the USA, through its guaranteed top-2 finish at the Pan American Cup 2025, will take the direct qualification spot available to the Americas for the FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands 2026.
The USA, placed in Pool B, made a perfect start to the tournament, defeating its southern neighbor Mexico, 10-0, in its opening encounter. This was followed by another impressive win in its toughest pool battle, as it beat Chile 5-2 to seal the top spot in the pool. Trinidad and Tobago’s late withdrawal from the competition meant the USA, Chile, and Mexico all received a 5-0 walkover against them in Pool B.
With the top spot secured, the USA faced hosts Uruguay in the semi-final, who finished second in Pool A behind Argentina, with their six points coming from wins against Canada and Paraguay. As Argentina defeated Chile in the first semi-final, the USA and Uruguay went into the second semi-final knowing a World Cup spot was at stake, and the teams played with the edge befitting the large stakes.
A cagey first half saw the USA create plenty of penalty corner opportunities, but Uruguay’s defense held strong, and the teams headed into halftime tied at 0-0. The USA finally broke the deadlock with its first penalty corner of the second half, with Ryleigh Heck putting them ahead. The goal spurred Uruguay on as it mounted waves of attack in search of an equalizer. Despite a missed penalty stroke opportunity in the final quarter, a late goal by Sol Amadeo brought Uruguay level and sent the match into a shootout.
Both teams scored on their first two shootout attempts, but two stops by USA keeper Kelsey Bing on Uruguay’s next two attempts, along with USA attackers remaining perfect in all four of their attacking forays, gave the USA the victory and punched its ticket to the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026!
Thus, the USA has become the fifth team to secure qualification to the FIH Hockey World Cup, Belgium & Netherlands 2026. Belgium and the Netherlands, on account of being hosts of the event, secured direct qualification. At the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24, it was Germany who qualified for the World Cup, finishing second behind the already qualified Netherlands.
Argentina also secured its spot similarly, finishing second behind the Netherlands in the 2024/25 season of the Pro League. Continental championships in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania over the coming months will determine four more direct qualifiers for the event, with the remaining seven teams qualifying through the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in 2026.
