The second day of pool play at the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup New Zealand 2025-26 saw pre-tournament favourites India and New Zealand secure second consecutive wins in Pool A and B over Japan and Chile respectively, which booked their semi-final places. USA in Pool A bounced back from a narrow defeat against India on day one, to get their campaign back on track against Uruguay, while Korea and France played out a 1-1 draw in the other Pool B match.

Here’s how the matches of the opening day played out..

USA 7-2 Uruguay (Pool A)

A quick start for USA yielded the opening goal of the game through Ashley Sessa who weaved her way into the circle from the left and skipped past the on-rushing keeper to slot the goal home. Uruguay responded quickly through a penalty corner goal of their own, but they were level for a very short period, as USA added 4 more goals in the first half to go into the break up 5-1, thanks to a brace from Abigail Tamer and penalty corner goals from Yeager and Heck.

Uruguay started the second half stronger and pulled a goal back through captain Manuela Vilar from a penalty corner. But their comeback attempts were snuffed by another star turn from Abigail Tamer who not only completed her hat-trick, but also got on the scoreboard a fourth time, to help lift USA to a comprehensive 7-2 win over their continental rivals.

Abigail Tamer won the player of the match award for her 4-goal performance and said: “Today we just had a lot of fun and bounced back from the loss yesterday as a team, which was really good to see. We have a team with a blend of experience and inexperience and we have to come together with both to go long in this tournament.”

Japan 1-2 India (Pool A)

The past two Japan vs India match-ups have ended in ties and the first half of the contest between the two in Auckland showed why as once again there was little to separate the two sides with the teams remaining tied at 0-0 at the break. Both teams had their opportunities, especially from penalty corners, with India failing to score from three of them in the opening quarter, while Japan squandering three of their own in the second half.

India broke the deadlock in the third quarter with Salima Tete pouncing on a saved penalty corner attempt, turning the loose ball in at the far post. Japan were quick to level things up again however, through a penalty corner of their own, scored by Ai Hiramitsu, whose wicked deflection wrong footed ace Indian keeper Savita. It was India however who had the last laugh, scoring from another penalty corner, with Lalremsiami getting a deflection off a Sushila Chanu shot, in front of the Japanese goal. With 6 points from the first two matches, and Japan facing off USA in the final pool match, the win meant India were through to the semi-final as well!

Indian captain and scorer of the first goal, Salima Tete was awarded player of the match and said: “Two wins in two is a really good start and I think our defence has been very solid in helping us win the games. The team really gives it their all every game and that helps me perform at my best too, so all credit to them for this.”

Korea 1-1 France (Pool B)

The first half of the Korea-France game saw Korea dominate possession and territory, winning multiple penalty corners and even a penalty stroke in the second quarter, but ended with the score in a 0-0 stalemate thanks to some stellar defensive work by the French backline, led by goalkeeper Lucie Ehrmann, who also provided the biggest highlight of the half with an incredible reflex save off An Sujin’s penalty stroke attempt.

The third quarter finally saw the first goal of the match, as Alice La Guerche led the ball from the middle of the field into the circle, made an excellent pass to Emma van der Zanden, who flicked straight into the Korean goal. The game was levelled again when Korea finally scored from their sixth penalty corner of the game in the fourth quarter. A well worked variation saw the injected ball sent back to captain Yuri Lee, the injector, as Korea finally wrong footed the sturdy French keeper and got back into the game. A spate of cards for both sides in the final five minutes killed the momentum for both sides as they settled for a point apiece from the draw.

For her outstanding work in the French goal, Lucie Erhmann was awarded the player of the match and said: “I think we tried to play with more confidence and belief in our skills. It wasn’t always shown in the field but every game is a step to improve. We have a lot of young players so this tournament is a great way for us to improve every game. With a rest day tomorrow, we will analyse the video from the games so far and get ready for the next one.”

Chile 2-3 New Zealand (Pool B)

It was a top of the table clash in Pool B between world #10 New Zealand and #11 Chile to close day 2 of the Nations Cup. The Chilean attack made a strong start with an early goal coming from Maria Maldonado in the 4th minute. Both teams pushed hard in attack, but it was Chile who succeeded in making more inroads. The score at half-time remained 1-0 to the visitors, but that was largely thanks to some great reflex saves from Black Sticks goalkeeper, Grace O’Hanlon, the reigning FIH Goalkeeper of the Year.

The second half saw New Zealand striking back with ferocity with two goals in the third quarter. The first came off a penalty stroke from captain Olivia Shannon in the 32nd minute, followed by a penalty corner goal from Holly Pearson five minutes later. The lead for the hosts didn’t last very long as Chile were back level in the third quarter itself, when a defensive lapse from New Zealand’s defense led to a turnover just outside their defensive circle, and Simone Avelli took full advantage to unleash a powerful shot that beat Julia Gluyas, who had subbed in for O’Hanlon at half-time. Ten minutes into the final quarter, Kaitlin Cotter’s flick from a penalty corner for New Zealand saw Josephine Murrry put in a decisive touch to score the third and winning goal for the hosts, securing their semi-final qualification in the process.

Casey Crowley was awarded the Player of the Match and said: “It was a pretty big battle out there with Chile and we had a really good game. They put us under the pump, but we managed to get through in the end, so very proud of the girls. I think we did a good job to push through and get up on them 3-2, so pretty proud of the girls.”

To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup New Zealand 2026, click here.

FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup – 16 June, 2026

North Harbour Hockey Stadium

Auckland, New Zealand

Match 1

USA 7-2 Uruguay (Pool A)

Player of the match: Abigail Tamer (USA)

Umpires: Meghan McLennan (CAN), Emi Yamada (JPN), Cassidy Gallagher (AUS - Video)

Match 2

Japan 1-2 India (Pool A)

Player of the match: Salima Tete (IND)

Umpires: Valerie Koh (SGP), Amber Church (NZL), Kristy Robertson (AUS - video)

Match 3

Korea 1-1 France (Pool B)

Player of the match: Lucie Ehrmann (FRA)

Umpires: Haroon Rashid (PAK), Lani Nichol (NZL), Xiaoying Liu (CHN - Video)

Match 4

Chile 2-3 New Zealand (Pool B)

Player of the match: Casey Crowley (NZL)

Umpires: Benjamin Peters (USA), Cassidy Gallagher (AUS), Valerie Koh (SGP - Video)