India eye World Cup berth as women’s hockey qualifiers begin in Hyderabad

The India women’s hockey team will look to seal a place in the FIH World Cup 2026 when they begin their campaign in the World Cup Qualifiers 2026 in Hyderabad on Sunday.

The eight-team tournament features hosts India alongside England, Scotland, South Korea, Italy, Uruguay, Wales and Austria. The competition will offer three direct qualification spots for the upcoming global showpiece.

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The teams finishing first, second and third in the tournament will earn direct berths at the 2026 World Cup. The upcoming edition of the tournament will feature 16 teams in both the men’s and women’s competitions, with nine teams in each category having already secured qualification.

The qualifiers will see the eight participating teams divided into two pools of four, with the top two sides from each pool advancing to the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals, along with the winner of the bronze medal match, will secure automatic qualification for the World Cup. Additionally, the highest-ranked team finishing fourth in Hyderabad will also qualify for the tournament.

The teams have been split into two pools, with England, Korea, Italy and Austria placed in Pool A, while hosts India, Scotland, Uruguay and Wales make up Pool B. With the tournament serving as the final pathway to the World Cup, intense competition is expected among the participating nations.

India will aim to capitalise on home support as they look to deliver strong performances in Hyderabad. The team will also be playing under the guidance of newly appointed chief coach Sjoerd Marijne, who returned to take charge of the side earlier this year.

Currently ranked ninth in the world, India are the second-highest ranked team in the tournament behind England, who are placed seventh in the global rankings. With a competitive squad and the advantage of playing at home, the hosts will be keen to make the most of the opportunity and book their place at the World Cup.

India will begin their campaign against Uruguay on Sunday before facing Scotland on Monday and Wales on Wednesday in their remaining pool matches.

The Indian women’s team have featured in eight editions of the World Cup so far and are aiming for their ninth appearance. Their best performance came in the inaugural edition in 1974, when they finished fourth.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, India captain Salima Tete said, “We are really excited to play the qualifiers at home in front of our fans. The team has been preparing very hard for this tournament because we know what is at stake. Every team here is competing for a place in the World Cup, so we expect tough matches from the start.”

She added, “Playing in Hyderabad will be very special for us. The support from the home crowd always gives us extra motivation. Our focus is on taking one match at a time, staying disciplined, and giving our best so that we can deliver strong performances and secure our place in the World Cup.”