Pakistan kicked off their FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers campaign with a thrilling 5-4 victory over China at the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Hockey Stadium on Sunday, securing an important early win in Group B. The match delivered high intensity, momentum swings, and late drama, reflecting the growing competitiveness of international hockey.
The Green Shirts began the contest with confidence and attacking intent. Pakistan earned an early penalty corner in the eighth minute, and Sufyan Khan made no mistake, converting the opportunity to give his side a 1-0 lead. The early breakthrough allowed Pakistan to settle into rhythm while maintaining pressure through structured passing and aggressive forward play.
China responded strongly at the start of the second quarter. Shihao Du found space inside the circle and scored the equalizer, briefly shifting momentum toward the Chinese side. However, Pakistan quickly regained control. Rana Waheed Ashraf restored the lead through another well-executed penalty corner, demonstrating Pakistan’s efficiency in set-piece situations.
Just a minute later, captain Ammad Butt produced one of the highlights of the match with an impressive field goal. His sharp movement and clinical finish extended Pakistan’s advantage to 3-1, giving the team breathing space heading into halftime while showcasing strong attacking coordination.
Pakistan continued their dominance early in the third quarter when Abu Mahmood successfully converted another penalty corner to make it 4-1. Despite trailing by three goals, China refused to back down. Shihao Du scored his second goal in the 39th minute, followed by Quyang Guan’s strike three minutes later, reducing the deficit to 4-3 and setting up a tense contest.
Waleed Rana responded at a crucial moment, scoring a field goal before the end of the third quarter to restore Pakistan’s two-goal cushion at 5-3. The final quarter saw China push aggressively, and Xiaojia Zhang scored in the 49th minute to make it 5-4. China earned two late penalty corners but failed to convert, allowing Pakistan to hold on for victory.
The win places Pakistan second in Group B behind Malaysia on goal difference. Pakistan will now face Malaysia in their next match at the same venue, a fixture that could prove decisive for standings in the qualification round.
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