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 vital sudden-death shootout against Spain earlier by 14-13 to advance past groups. The victory came late and pushed 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 painful but the team showed determination. 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 early exits on the women’s side. Fans watched a tight showdown that underscored the depth of the field. The match was closely contested.