Argentina's Lionesses Roar in Belgium
The Argentina women's field hockey team, better known as Las Leonas (The Lionesses), extended their winning streak at the 2026 Hockey World Cup, co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. Playing at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, they beat Scotland 2-0 in a decisive Group B match. With this victory, Las Leonas, led by coach Fernando Ferrara, finished first in Group B with 7 points — a 2-0 win over Germany, a 0-0 draw against the USA, and this win over Scotland — and booked their spot in the tournament's next phase without losing a single game.
For international fans, field hockey (or hockey on grass) is a fast, technical sport where players use curved sticks to push a small ball into the opponent's goal. It's a huge deal in Argentina, particularly women's hockey, with Las Leonas having won Olympic medals and World Cup titles, making this team a national pride and a household name.
Majo Granatto's Masterclass
The undisputed star of the afternoon was María José 'Majo' Granatto, born in La Plata, Buenos Aires. Granatto was directly involved in both goals. First, at 8 minutes into the first quarter, a penalty corner taken by Valentina Raposo led to a rebound. Granatto pounced on the ball and slammed it into the net to open the scoring. Then, 11 minutes into the third quarter, she dribbled past defenders on the left wing and delivered a perfect low cross that Lara Casas deflected into the goal to seal the 2-0 victory.
Granatto's vision, skill, and leadership were key, further cementing her reputation as one of the world's best field hockey players. She has a huge fan following in Argentina and is considered the heir to the legendary Luciana Aymar.
Milestone for Alonso, Debut for Knobl
The match also marked two special moments for Argentina. Agostina Alonso, a defender and a pillar of the team, played her 200th international match wearing the Argentina jersey. She was honored by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for this historic achievement, joining a select group of players. Additionally, the match marked the World Cup debut of young talent Emma Knobl, a rising star in Argentine hockey. The team’s future looks bright.
After the match, midfielder Juana Castellaro praised the team's collective effort and the support of Argentine fans in Europe: “We are playing with that defensive strength and team spirit that we built over months.” Meanwhile, Victoria Sauze highlighted the team's experience in managing pressure, saying, “This win gives us even more confidence for the next challenges.”
What’s Next? The Second Phase
With this win, Las Leonas will now move to the Group F of the second phase. They will keep the 3 points earned from beating Ireland in the first round (they also drew with the USA, but that result doesn't transfer – only wins count). In Group F, they will meet Germany (the other team from Group B) and two more teams coming from Group C, which could include Belgium, Spain, or Ireland. The top two from Group F will advance to the semifinals, where they will face the best of Group E.
Argentina has won the Hockey World Cup twice (in 2002 and 2010) and won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Their long-term goal is to reclaim the World Cup title, and they are off to a perfect start.
| Match | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina vs Ireland | 2-0 Win | 3 |
| Argentina vs USA | 0-0 Draw | 1 |
| Argentina vs Scotland | 2-0 Win | 3 |
Sources: Based on reports from Argentine media (El Día, Filo News, La Nación) published on August 20, 2026.