The U.S. women’s indoor field hockey team had a win and a loss after two of three pool-play matches at the 2025 World Cup.
The Eagles had gotten three points from a win and a loss after two matches, and faced uncertainty headed into today’s final Pool A match with medal favorite Belgium.
That’s because the tournament has three pools with four teams each, and only eight teams make the quarterfinal round. With teams having to make the quarters on a rankings formula, the imperative was to get at least one point to avoid being on three points, and being in danger of dropping to the 9-12 consolation round.
But thanks to a brilliant look by Reese D’Ariano and a sprawling tip-in by Erin Matson, the United States all but clinched a berth in the quarterfinal round with a 1-1 draw against Belgium. With four games tomorrow, the eyes of everyone turn to Pool B.
In that pool, Thailand and South Africa could finish pool play with four points each if they beat, respectively, Austria and Poland. If that happens, nine teams would have at least four points in pool play. Too, if that happened, six teams — Poland, Austria, the United States, Thailand, South Africa, and Belgium — would be level on four points.
Indeed, about all we know is that Germany, Czechia, and Namibia have all made the quarters with two wins each.
It’s all to play for tomorrow.