South Africa's men’s hockey team suffered a heartbreaking exit from the Hockey World Cup after losing to Pakistan in a penalty shoot-out. Despite a strong tournament performance from Mustapha Cassiem, who scored seven goals, they were unable to secure victory. The South African women’s team also faced disappointment, finishing 14th overall after a defeat against Ireland. Both teams’ campaigns ended without reaching their desired outcomes. The penalty shoot-out loss marks a particularly painful end for the men, following a promising run. This result signals the end of South Africa’s participation in this year’s Hockey World Cup.