Competition Starts in Breda & Brasschaat For 2026 WMH Masters World Cup

Less than one week after the first leg of competition wrapped up in Rotterdam and Schiedam, Netherlands for the 2026 World Masters Hockey (WMH) Masters World Cup, the second leg has begun. In Brasschaat, Belgium, five USA Masters teams (Men's O-55, Men's O-60, Women's O-55, Women's O-60, and Women's O-65) kicked off their tournament this weekend, while the Men's O-65s got things going in Breda, Netherlands.

USA's Women's O-60 team remains undefeated after a 4-0 win over Chile on Saturday following a 1-1 draw against Australia on Friday. The Men's O-60 won their opening match, 3-1, against Belgium.

USA’s Men’s O-55 team made a good start to the tournament against a quality New Zealand team. The first half was very competitive, and New Zealand scored first to be up 1-0 at halftime. In the second half, USA had several opportunities to score, but it was New Zealand who scored again, after a defensive error. New Zealand got the better of a tired USA side in the fourth quarter, scoring a couple of breakaway goals to make the final score 4-0.

It was a well-deserved win for the Men’s O-60 team on a beautiful day at the HC Olympia venue located in Antwerp. In front of a Belgian home crowd, the USA men proved they are a team to reckon with. In the 9th minute, USA started the road to victory with a field goal scored by Greg Pereira. The second quarter was uneventful for both teams. However, throughout the first half, the USA defenders and midfielders held their ground, not giving the Belgium an opportunity to score. The second half was quite productive for the USA team, as they went on to score two brilliant field goals. The first was scored at the 41st minute by Bill Larkins and the second was scored by Caz Pereira at the 60th minute. Special mention to Aji Prashant for making several awesome saves, keeping Belgium to only one goal. Tomorrow will be well-deserved rest and recovery day for the team. The Men’s O-60s will resume competition with a game against England on Sunday, August 9 at 5:40 p.m. local.

The Men’s O-65 squad fell 8-1 to a tough Belgium side to open their play in Breda, Netherlands. Jaswinder Singh scored the lone goal for USA.

A great four quarter team effort led USA’s Women’s O-60 squad to a 1-1 draw with Australia.  After an early Australia goal in the first quarter, USA played hard to work out the initial kinks and the first game jitters. In the third quarter, USA shifted tactics and turned the tide with several offensive opportunities. On a breakaway, a shot on goal that was heading out, Toni Arner and her lightning touch pushed it right to the center of the pitch where Anne Parmenter streaked in to bury it in the net. The fourth quarter was also well-fought, and USA maintained time well.

The Women’s O-55s had a fast, physical battle against Australia. After trailing 1-0 at halftime, USA came out strong and swung the momentum to start the second half, creating strong attacking opportunities and preventing any major threats. USA took some chances up the field in an attempt to even the score, but ultimately Australia was able to score a second goal in the final five minutes, as USA fell 2-0.