The Australian men’s team endured a loss to Croatia 11-10 in a close loss during the 2026 World Cup. The match was gritty and decided by a single goal. They won a crucial sudden-death shootout against Spain earlier by 14-13 to advance past groups. The victory came late and propelled them into the knockout round. Australia then lost in the tough semifinals to Croatia. In the semifinal, the Australians struggled against the Croatians. The defeat was hard-hitting but the team showed resilience. China and Hungary played for seventh place after both teams went out in early knockout games on the women’s side. The two nations contended for seventh place after knockout setbacks on the women’s side. Fans watched a tight showdown that underscored the depth of the field. The match was evenly matched.