Ireland men’s and women’s hockey teams on brink of World Cup last eight
Ireland's Lee Cole warms up before the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026 Pool C match against South Africa. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
Ireland men’s and women’s hockey teams stand 60 minutes away from both qualifying for the final eight at a dual World Cup for the first time today.
Ireland men play Spain (4pm Thursday) knowing that a point will see them reach the next pool phase and guarantee their highest finish in the sport's showpiece.
Meanwhile, Gareth Grundie’s women’s side certainly have the tougher test. The Green Army need to win in their evening push back (7:30pm) against world No.3 Belgium and a 10,000 full house at the Belfius Hockey Arena.
It will be an intriguing battle, given that a dozen Irish players will be playing in the Belgian women’s top league next season. Captain Sarah Hawkshaw expects the co-hosts to play a zonal system, suiting Ireland, while Belgium will likely hold ball possession aplenty.
“We know the Belgians quite well and they are a top international side,” she said. “The pressure is on their side with a home World Cup, but we need that lightness and freedom of play. In a World Cup anything can happen as we saw a few years ago.”
Hawkshaw was referring to Ireland’s 2018 World Cup run, when Belgium were ranked a lowly 13th. Since then, they have emerged as a serious threat, as well as luring Ireland’s top talent, including Hawkshaw, who plays for Braxgata.
“When you are playing alongside those you see on the world stage it reminds you, as Róisín [Upton] said, that they have two and two legs like the rest of us.
“When Sarah McAuley came back from playing in the Netherlands, she almost looked taller and more grown into herself with her speed and ability on the ball. More players are going abroad and seeing the opportunities.”
Upton admitted that watching Ireland’s other sporting talent on the world stage, including Katie O’Connor’s European heptathlon gold, has buoyed the squad.
The Limerick native said: “We had it on every night and watched Katie in the last 800m, we got a lot of inspiration and excitement from it.
“We are such a unique country competing at a high level in so many different sports. You can relate to the work and sacrifices that those athletes are putting in the pool and on the track.”
Meanwhile, Ireland men will attempt to overturn a rotten record against Spain, having lost their last 14 of 15 matches stretching back to 2017. Last summer they lost 9-1 against Max Caldas’ side in the FIH Pro League.
Lee Cole, who played in Ireland’s last win against the Spanish nine years ago, scored a fine penalty corner brace against South Africa as well as being excellent in defence. However, he expects a vastly different final group game against the Spanish.
The Dubliner said: “They are an exciting team and play some brilliant hockey. There will be more organisation in attack and defence from what we saw from South Africa.
“The game won’t be as scrappy, or open and Spain have brilliant individuals but are a well-drilled team. It won’t be as emotional a game, it will be more calculated.”
Cole also hailed goalkeeper Jaime Carr, his roommate and close friend, for holding South Africa at bay following his return from a pre-World Cup injury.
Carr had travelled back from the Belgian club leagues to stay with Cole and see a shoulder specialist before being given the all clear.
“To see what he's done in the last few years is nothing short of spectacular,” Cole added.
“The life of a goalkeeper is not always an easy one in terms of only one spot, and he has now got his time as number one.”
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