ISLAMABAD: Pakistan head coach Khawaja Juanid and captain Ammad Butt expressed strong confidence ahead of Pakistan’s crucial semi-final clash against Japan in the Hockey World Cup Qualifier on Friday, saying the team is fully prepared to seize the golden opportunity to secure direct qualification for the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup.
Speaking to The News from Ismailia, Junaid who assumed charge of the national side just days before the team’s departure to Egypt, said the players have responded exceptionally well and remained unbeaten so far in the tournament.
“So far, the team has delivered its best,” Junaid said. “Whether it was the match against China or Malaysia, the boys combined well and played impressive hockey. Remaining unbeaten at this stage is encouraging. However, the real test now begins.
The semi-final is the most important match and winning it will take us directly into the World Cup. We do not want to leave anything to chance.” Although Pakistan could still qualify through the third-place playoff even if they fall short in the semi-final, the coach made it clear that the team’s focus is solely on defeating Japan and convincingly sealing qualification.
“We want to finish the job against Japan,” he said. “We watched their game against Egypt and noticed their strength on penalty corners. They showed their ability to convert chances in that match. But we have worked on our plans and trained specifically for that during Thursday evening’s session.”
Captain Ammad Butt also sounded upbeat about Pakistan’s chances, describing the semi-final as a defining moment for the team and for the future of the sport in the country. “The match against Japan is a huge opportunity for us,” Ammad said. “Every player in the squad is fully focused on giving their best in the semi-final. We know how important this game is and how much it means for Pakistan hockey. We aim to go all out and make the nation proud.”
He also lauded the collective effort of the team throughout the tournament, emphasizing that unity and determination have been key factors behind Pakistan’s impressive run. “Every member of the squad has played quality hockey so far,” he said. “The spirit within the team is excellent and we want to raise our performance to even greater heights going into the semi-final.”
With a place in the World Cup at stake, Pakistan will be looking to produce another commanding performance against Japan and keep their dream of returning to hockey’s biggest stage firmly on track.
Meanwhile, Malaysia and Japan claimed vital victories at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Ismailia on Wednesday to book their tickets to the semi-finals. The Malaysians held on for a 5-4 victory over China while Japan withstood a spirited fightback from Egypt, beating them 6-3 to join England and Pakistan in the final four. Pakistan had already secured their place before extending their winning run with a 4-2 victory over Austria on Wednesday.
The results of the group games mean England will play Malaysia and Pakistan will take on Japan in the semi-finals on Friday, with the winners of those matches guaranteed a ticket to the FIH Hockey World Cup this August.
