Malaysia's national men's hockey team suffered a setback in their World Cup Qualifier in Egypt, falling 5-3 to Pakistan despite leading twice during the match. The Speedy Tigers held advantages of 2-0 and 3-2 at the Suez Canal Sports Authority Stadium but saw their defense crumble in the final quarter, even while Pakistan was playing with a man down for ten minutes.

This defeat leaves world No. 13 Malaysia with just three points from two matches, following their opening 6-1 victory over Austria. To keep their semi-final hopes alive and continue their quest for a top-three finish, Malaysia must now secure a win against China in their final Group B fixture on Wednesday.

In contrast, Pakistan has already secured a spot in the last four after recording two consecutive wins, including a narrow 5-4 victory over China. Malaysia’s path to the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, remains narrow, as they must finish in the top three of this eight-nation tournament to qualify.