Las Leonas Take World Cup, Beat Netherlands in Shootout

Argentina's Las Leonas are world champions once more. Argentina Women's Hockey Team beat the Netherlands in a shootout in Amstelveen on 29 August 2026 to win the FIH Women's Hockey World Cup. They took the shootout 3-1 after the final finished level.

A save, a late equaliser, then the shootout

It was the fifth time the two sides had met in a World Cup final, and the opening half was tight. Possession was shared and clear chances were rare. Goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino kept the score level with a save on Pien Dicke after the Dutch forward's solo run.

The hosts found the breakthrough 51 seconds before half-time, when Yibbi Jansen struck from their first penalty corner. Argentina pressed through the third quarter without reward. With six minutes left, María Granatto pounced on a rebound from a penalty corner to make it 1-1 and force the shootout.

A third title, all three won against the Dutch

This was Argentina's third Women's Hockey World Cup crown, after 2002 and 2010. All three were won by beating the Netherlands in the final, and this one came 16 years after the last. It ended the Dutch bid for a fourth straight title as three-time defending champions.

Cosentino, named player of the match, spoke about the wait. "I really have no words for this. We were looking forward to this moment," she told reporters, adding that the team knew a tough opponent awaited and chose to "just have fun in the shootout."

For a squad that had fallen short at the last World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics, the wait is over. The Las Leonas leave Amstelveen with the trophy they had chased for years.