S2H Team

Wales qualified for the 2023 World Cup for the first time ever when they beat Ireland in the semi-finals of the European men’s hockey qualifier in Cardiff on Saturday, October 23.

The hosts won a shootout 2-1 after full time ended 1-1.

Wales now play France in Sunday’s final. The French took the other spot offered by the 8-nation tournament for the World Cup in Bhubaneswar-Rourkela with a 4-1 win over Austria.

Wales and France join The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, England and Spain – who clinched spots at the EuroHockey Championships in Amstelveen in June as the continent’s representatives at the World Cup.

Only one nation will qualify for the women’s qualifier in Pisa, Italy, where Ireland meet Wales in the final, also on Sunday. The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium clinched spots for the 2022 World Cup from the EuroHockey Championships in Amstelveen in June.

For Ireland, it was a devastating sense of deja vu. They were denied a place in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the same manner —  a duel from the 23m line ‐- by Canada.