Las Leonas Face Germany in World Cup Showdown, Featuring Argentine-Born Player

Argentina's national women's field hockey team, "Las Leonas," are set to face Germany on Monday in their second match of the 2026 World Cup, held in Belgium and the Netherlands. The team is aiming for their first win of the tournament to solidify their path to the next stage.

The crucial Group B encounter is scheduled for 12:00 PM Argentine time at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Amstelveen. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN and available for streaming on Flow, DGO, and Disney+ Premium. Las Leonas began their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against the United States, making a victory against Germany, their toughest opponent in the initial phase, essential for qualification.

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Las Leonas will face Germany in their second match: it is the most complex opponent of the first stage.

Adding an intriguing subplot to the game is the presence of Lucina von der Heyde, an Argentine defender and midfielder who now represents Germany. Von der Heyde, a standout player for Argentina in recent years, switched allegiance due to her German ancestry after not being selected by coach Fernando Ferrara. She debuted for Germany in their opening match, a 3-0 victory over Scotland, four years after helping Las Leonas secure the runner-up position in the 2022 World Cup.

Coach Fernando Ferrara's squad includes notable players such as Cristina Cosentino, Agustina Gorzelany, and María José Granatto. Las Leonas have a strong history in the World Cup, having won the title twice before, in 2002 and 2010. Advancing to the next phase involves finishing first or second in their group, with the top two teams from each of the subsequent four-team pools progressing to the semifinals.

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‘Luchi’ wore the Teutonic jersey for the first time in a World Cup in the match against the Scots, four years after being a world runner-up with Las Leonas in Spain-Netherlands 2022.