The first Belgian block of the FIH Hockey Pro League at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre could hardly have gone better for the Red Lions. Four matches, four victories and twelve valuable points have strengthened Belgium’s position at the top of the standings, while reinforcing the team’s ambition to secure direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The campaign began with an emphatic 7-1 victory over Pakistan. After a closely contested first half, the Red Lions shifted into a higher gear after the break, with goals coming from Nelson Onana, Thibeau Stockbroekx, Alexander Hendrickx, Tobias Biekens (2x), Guillaume Hellin and Tom Boon. The result immediately set the tone for the week ahead.
Three days later, Belgium faced Spain in a much tighter contest. Against a well-organised Spanish side, patience proved essential. Goals from Tom Boon, Alexander Hendrickx and Thibeau Stockbroekx eventually secured a deserved 3-1 victory and allowed the Red Lions to further consolidate their lead in the competition.
The return match against Pakistan once again showcased Belgium’s attacking depth and defensive solidity. Nicolas De Kerpel opened the scoring after barely a minute, while Tom Boon produced a hat-trick in an impressive 6-0 win. Victor Foubert and Hugo Labouchere also found the net as the Red Lions controlled te match from start to finish.
The first block concluded with another encounter against Spain, arguably the most challenging test of the week. In temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, Belgium had to dig deep. Thibeau Stockbroekx, Alexander Hendrickx and Tom Boon delivered the decisive goals in a thrilling 3-2 victory, allowing the Red Lions to maintain their perfect record in Wavre.
With a total of 11 wins in 12 matches, Belgium heads into the second and decisive Pro League block full of confidence. The upcoming week promises an entirely different level of challenge, however, with crucial clashes against fellow title contenders the Netherlands and Australia.
The stakes could hardly be higher. The winner of this season’s FIH Hockey Pro League will earn a direct ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, making every remaining point potentially decisive. While the Red Lions have built a valuable cushion at the top of the standings, they know that the toughest tests are still to come.
Starting on Wednesday against the Netherlands, the Belfius Hockey Arena will once again become the stage for world-class hockey as Belgium looks to transform an excellent first week into a potentially historic Pro League campaign. Supported by their home crowd, the Red Lions will aim to take another decisive step towards both the Pro League title and Olympic qualification.
