2026 Asia Pacific Men’s Championship

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The 2026 Asia-Pacific Men’s Lacrosse Championship, held from 6–11 January at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) in Wellington, concluded with Australia reclaiming their regional dominance. 

Tournament Overview

The event served as the primary continental qualifier for the 2027 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship in Japan. 

  • Champions: Australia secured their fourth title and first since 2007, finishing with a perfect record.
  • Runners-up: The Philippines made history by reaching their first-ever final in the championship.
  • Third Place: Japan defeated host nation New Zealand 9–5 to take the bronze. 

Final Standings & Qualifications

The top four finishers qualified directly for the 2027 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship. 

  1. Australia (Gold) — Qualified
  2. Philippines (Silver) — Qualified
  3. Japan (Bronze) — Qualified (Automatic as host)
  4. New Zealand — Qualified
  5. South Korea — Qualified for Division II (Wroclaw, Poland)
  6. Hong Kong, China — Qualified for Division II
  7. China — Qualified for Division II

Key Highlights

  • Gold Medal Match: Australia defeated the Philippines 13–3. John Stubbs and Matthew Wood led the scoring, while goalkeeper Kody Watts recorded 15 saves.
  • The “Double OT” Thriller: In pool play, the Philippines stunned Japan 10–9 in double overtime, a result that secured their historic path to the final.
  • Top Performers: Japan’s Komine Takuma led the tournament with 18 goals, followed by Hong Kong’s Corbyn Tao with 16.