Germany Men's Hockey Team are world champions again. A single strike in Wavre saw off Spain in the final of the 2026 FIH Men's Hockey World Cup. It was a fourth crown, and it drew Germany level with Pakistan at the top of the sport's honours list.
One goal against the run of play settles the final
Germany started sharply on the break. Thies Prinz, Christopher Rühr and Paul-Philipp Kaufmann combined to win a penalty corner inside the first 90 seconds. It set the tone for a night of counter-attacks.
Spain, in their first World Cup final, held most of the ball. They earned three short corners in the third quarter, but Pepe Cunill and captain Marc Miralles could not score. Defender Teo Hinrichs made a vital block and took a hard blow to his shin.
The decisive moment came in the 44th minute. Hannes Müller collected a loose ball at the top of the circle and slipped a reverse pass to Michel Struthoff, who had drifted to the byline. Struthoff rounded goalkeeper Luis Calzado and passed into the net before a near sell-out crowd of 10,000.
Back-to-back twice, and level with Pakistan
The 1-0 win added to titles in 2002, 2006 and 2023. Germany became the first men's team to defend the World Cup on two separate occasions. Only nine players remained from the 2023 side, yet the group delivered again when it mattered.
Coach André Henning said the tournament had left a deep mark. "I don't think many people would have thought we could do it before the tournament. The development was really breathtaking," he told reporters after the final.
For Spain, coached by Max Caldas, the wait for a first world title goes on after earlier final losses in 1971 and 1998. For Germany, a new generation has matched the game's most decorated nation.
