Las Leonas face Spain in 2026 Hockey World Cup opener

Las Leonas, Argentina's formidable national women's field hockey team, are set to compete against Spain this Saturday at 4 p.m. Argentine time. The match, held at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium, marks the first fixture for both teams in Group F of the second round of the 2026 World Cup.

Argentina enters this stage undefeated, having topped their initial group with seven points from a draw against the United States and victories over Germany and Scotland. The team harbors ambitions of clinching the World Cup title, a feat they last achieved in 2002 and 2010. Their consistent performance in recent tournaments is notable, having reached at least the semifinals in five of the last six World Cups, with their only exception being a quarterfinal exit in 2018.

Spain, their upcoming opponent, secured second place in Group C with seven points, matching host nation Belgium but trailing on goal difference. Spain's best World Cup performance was a bronze medal win in 2018. The match will be available live on ESPN 3 and can be streamed on Disney+ Premium. Betting odds favor Argentina, with odds of up to 1.48 for a win compared to 4.70 for Spain.