Argentina rally past Netherlands for third Women’s Hockey World Cup title

Argentina won its third Women’s Hockey World Cup title after overturning a second-half deficit against the host Netherlands and prevailing 3-1 in a shoot-out in Amstelveen. The final had finished 1-1 after 60 minutes.

The Netherlands, winners of the previous three editions and favourites on home ground, went ahead in the 30th minute through Yibbi Jansen. It was her eighth goal of the tournament. Argentina stayed within reach, and María Granatto equalised in the 54th minute to force the decisive shoot-out.

Argentina then converted three attempts and held the Dutch to one, completing its first World Cup triumph since 2010 and denying the Netherlands a fourth consecutive crown. Argentina’s previous titles came in Perth in 2002 and Rosario in 2010, and all three were secured with the Netherlands as the final opponent. This latest victory also answered Argentina’s 3-1 loss to the Dutch in the 2022 final.

The scale of the upset was underlined by the recent record: the Netherlands had won eight of the teams’ previous 10 meetings, while Argentina had won one. Both sides nevertheless entered the final unbeaten. In the match that mattered most, Argentina found a late equaliser and delivered under shoot-out pressure to change the pattern.