Speedy Tigers finish Hockey World Cup campaign with 5-3 loss to Belgium

The Malaysian Speedy Tigers ended their Hockey World Cup 2026 Group B campaign with a 3-5 defeat against world number one Belgium. The team failed to secure a single victory in the group stage, finishing fourth with one point from a draw against France.

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Belgium who is ranked No.1 in the world continues to show its class when Tom Boon opened the scoring in the 16th minute before the same player doubled the lead three minutes later to put Malaysia 0-2 behind.

Belgium's Tom Boon proved a constant threat, scoring twice in the first half to give his team a 2-0 lead. Malaysia pulled one back through a Nik Aiman Nik Rozemi penalty corner in the 31st minute. However, Boon quickly restored Belgium's two-goal advantage, and further goals from Thibeau Stockbroekx and Boon's fourth sealed the win for Belgium.

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Malaysia however fought back after the break when Nik Aiman Nik Rozemi completed a penalty corner in the 31st minute, but Boon once again punished the national defense with a goal in the 35th minute to restore the two-goal lead.

Malaysia showed resilience, with captain Muhammad Marhan Jalil also converting a penalty corner. Akhimullah Anuar Esook scored Malaysia's third goal late in the game. Despite the loss, Malaysia's seven goals in three matches offer some hope as they advance to the next stage, where they will face either Spain or Ireland. The team must urgently strengthen its defense, having conceded 13 goals in the group stage.

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National captain Muhammad Marhan Jalil then injected spirit into the Speedy Tigers when he completed a penalty corner in the 37th minute, but Thibeau Stockbroekx widened the gap with a field goal in the 43rd minute.