Kiwi umpire appointed to World Cup Final

Hockey New Zealand is proud to announce that umpire Amber Church has been appointed to officiate the FIH Women’s World Cup final, a special achievement for an umpire who has been among the world's best for over a decade.

Church, from Gisborne, will take charge of the highly anticipated final between hosts the Netherlands and Argentina, with the match set to get underway on Sunday morning at 2am (NZ time).

Speaking before the tournament, Church reflected on what it means to officiate at hockey's showpiece event.

"Being part of any tournament is always a privilege, and a World Cup, which will be my third, is even more so," she said.

"It's one of the pinnacle events in our sport, and having both the men's and women's competitions together will make this one a truly unique experience. To be one of 32 umpires from around the world trusted with officiating at an event of this level is an honour. I'm excited to reconnect with officials from around the world, share experiences, and contribute to what is going to be an amazing spectacle for our sport."

Church will be joined in the middle by co-umpire Sarah Wilson of Scotland. The pair are no strangers to high-pressure occasions together, having also umpired the 2022 World Cup final, making this latest appointment a fitting reunion four years on.

The final also marks a significant personal milestone for Church, who will notch up her 150th international game in the role.

The 2026 final adds to an already remarkable umpiring resume. This will be her third World Cup, and she has also officiated at three Olympic Games, including an appointment to the bronze medal match in Paris in 2024. Add a gold medal game at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and Church boasts one of the most decorated careers in world hockey umpiring history.

With this appointment, Church cements her place among the most respected umpires in world hockey, and Hockey New Zealand congratulates her on this outstanding achievement.