Wales beat Poland to secure World Cup qualification

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Mar 9, 2026 - 00:00
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Wales beat Poland to secure World Cup qualification

Wales booked their spot at the Hockey World Cup with a nail-biting 2-1 win over Poland in the third-place play-off in Santiago, Chile.

After a goalless first period, Gareth Furlong gave Wales the lead with their first penalty corner of the match and then the drag-flick specialist converted their second in identical fashion to give Wales a 2-0 lead at half-time.

Poland started the third quarter brightly but the Welsh defence was resolute.

Maksymillian Koperski scored from a penalty corner with 10 minutes remaining but Wales held firm to seal the win.

Wales have secured back-to-back World Cup qualifications, having made their tournament debut in India in 2023, where they finished tied for 11th.

After a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Ireland on Friday, Danny Newcombe's side bounced back, beginning the game with great intensity and dominating possession.

Poland forced a couple of saves from Toby Reynolds-Cotterill in the first quarter but were unable to match Wales' intensity.

A high press from the Welsh forwards kept the pressure on the Polish defenders as they struggled to clear their lines.

Wales were clinical with their set-piece, with Gareth Furlong converting on both of their penalty corners in the first half.

Poland meanwhile were unable to earn a penalty corner in the first 30 minutes of action but applied more pressure in the third quarter.

Wales held firm as they thwarted three Polish penalty corners in the third quarter.

But when Koperski converted a penalty corner in the fourth quartet, it led to a cagey final 10 minutes for the men in red.

Reynolds-Cotterill made another save from a penalty corner with three minutes left to seal the 2-1 win.

Gareth Griffiths earned his 50th cap for Wales during the game, with victory making the occasion all the more sweet.

Poland's wait 24-year wait to return to the World Cup continues as the unlucky fourth placed side who miss out.

Malaysia who finished fourth in the other qualifying tournament in Egypt, take the final qualifying spot by virtue of a higher world ranking than the Poles.

Wales' women are aiming to join the men at the tournament in August.

They began qualifying with a 1-0 defeat to Scotland in Hyderabad, India.

They play Uruguay in their second pool match on Monday (11:45 GMT).

The Hockey World Cup will be held from 14-30 August 2026 in Wavre, Belgium and Amstelveen, Netherlands.

Wales co-captain Jacob Draper said: "Tournament hockey is a crazy thing, it's so unpredictable.

"If you asked me a week ago if we were going to go to a World Cup, I'd have told you absolutely no chance.

"I'm over the moon, so speechless. It's the work the guys have done in this tournament that have made the whole tournament so good.

"We've got a bit of a mix of experience and youthfulness in the team and we probably lacked a little bit of composure when we needed it but then we made up for it with grit, determination, and a want to win."

FIH Men's Hockey World Cup qualified teams (16)

  • Belgium
  • Netherlands
  • Australia
  • Spain
  • Argentina
  • Germany
  • India
  • New Zealand
  • South Africa
  • England
  • Pakistan
  • France
  • Ireland
  • Japan
  • Malaysia
  • Wales
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