The Australian men’s team experienced a loss to Croatia 11-10 in a narrow 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 in the final moments and catapulted them into the knockout round. Australia then lost in the intense semifinals to Croatia. In the semifinal, the Australians fell short against the Croatians. The defeat was hard-hitting but the team showed determination. China and Hungary played for seventh place after both teams went out in first-round knockout games on the women’s side. The two nations battled for seventh place after knockout setbacks on the women’s side. Fans watched a competitive showdown that underscored the depth of the field. The match was evenly matched.