Pakistan reach Hockey Nations Cup final by defeating France on penalties

Pakistan has secured a place in the final of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2025 after defeating France in a dramatic penalty shootout,  24NewsHD TV channel reported on Friday. 

The thrilling semi-final encounter ended in a 3-2 victory for Pakistan through penalties.

The match, held in Kuala Lumpur, was the first semi-final of the tournament and kicked off at 3:30 pm Pakistan Standard Time.

After a closely fought game, neither side could emerge victorious in regular time, pushing the contest into penalties, where Pakistan held their nerve to clinch the win.

With this win, Pakistan advances to the final, which will be played on Saturday.

In the second semi-final, New Zealand will face Korea, with the winner set to meet Pakistan in the final.

Pakistan's journey to the semi-finals saw a mixed run in Pool B, where they finished second with four points.

Pakistan’s group stage performance included a 3-2 win over Japan, a 3-3 draw with hosts Malaysia, and a narrow 4-3 loss to New Zealand.

Despite the defeat to New Zealand, Pakistan qualified for the knockout stage due to a superior goal difference over Malaysia, who also had four points.

From Pool A, France and Korea advanced to the semi-finals, with France topping the group.

New Zealand and Pakistan emerged from Pool B, with New Zealand claiming the top spot.

The FIH Nations Cup is a crucial tournament, serving as a qualifier for the prestigious FIH Hockey Pro League.