As we count down to the highly anticipated FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026, we take a closer look at the competing men's and women's teams ready to battle for global supremacy. In this special preview series, we profile each nation's journey to the tournament, examining their road to qualification, historic achievements, key players to watch, and the tactical minds leading them into the ultimate hockey showcase. In today’s story we take a look at the Australia women’s team, ranked #8 in the world.
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With seven podium finishes which include title victories in 1994 and 1998, Australia has an enviable track record in this competition. Their most recent World Cup medal success came in 2022, winning bronze as a double strike from Steph Kershaw gave the Hockeyroos a 2-1 victory over Germany at the Olympic Stadium in Terrassa (ESP).
It has been something of a rocky road since that success, eliminated by eventual silver-medallists China in the early knock-out rounds at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games before suffering a painful Oceania Cup 2025 defeat on home soil to New Zealand, missing their first chance to qualify for this event. That result marked the end of Katrina Powell’s tenure as Head Coach, with the legendary Hockeyroos striker and double Olympic gold medallist stepping down after four and a half instrumental years rebuilding the team and culture.
While an eighth-place finish in the 2025-26 FIH Hockey Pro League was below expectations, the team showed glimpses of a promising future at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Santiago, Chile, finishing second to the host nation. 2026 international debutant Neasa Flynn finished joint top scorer with three goals, while Steph Kershaw, Alice Arnot, Claire Colwill, Mihaylia Howell and Grace Stewart all made important scoring contributions to ensure the Hockeyroos reached the FIH Hockey World Cup for the 13th time in succession.
Nickname: Hockeyroos
How they qualified: 2nd place – 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifier, Santiago (CHI)
Notable honours: 3x Olympic gold medallists (1988, 1996, 2000), 2x FIH Hockey World Cup winners (1994, 1998), 3x FIH Hockey World Cup silver medallists (1990, 2006, 2014), 2x FIH Hockey World Cup bronze medallists (1983, 2022), FIH Hockey Pro League silver medallists (2019), 6x FIH Champions Trophy gold medallists (1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003), 8x Oceania champions (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2023), 4x Commonwealth Games gold medallists (1998, 2006, 2010, 2014)
Rank in previous WC editions: 1981 – 4th, 1983 – 3rd, 1986 – 6th, 1990 – 2nd, 1994 – 1st, 1998 – 1st, 2002 – 4th, 2006 – 2nd, 2010 – 5th, 2014 – 2nd, 2018 – 4th, 2022 – 3rd
Head coach: Rhett Halkett. A former South African international with over 150 appearances who competed at the Olympic Games London 2012. Halkett took the reins in September 2025 following the resignation of Katrina Powell, stepping up from assistant coach. Previously served as assistant to the Netherlands women (2021) and India men (2022–24).
Quote: Rhett Halkett: “Selection for a World Cup is never easy because it represents the pinnacle of our sport. Every player who has represented the Hockeyroos this year has contributed to where we are today. I am very proud of how the squad have handled everything thrown at them this year.”
“This team has a well-balanced mix of experience and mature emerging talent. Throughout the year we’ve continued to challenge ourselves against the world’s best teams, and we’ve seen positive strides in both our performances and our belief.”
“One of the biggest strengths of this group is how open they have been to change. It has not always been easy for them, but they have remained connected as a team throughout every challenge. They’ve bought into what we’re trying to achieve, they compete hard for each other, and they’re incredibly driven to keep improving.”
“We know there are no easy games at a World Cup, but that’s what excites us. It’s an opportunity to showcase ourselves and the brand of hockey we want the Hockeyroos to be known for.”
One to watch: Kaitlin Nobbs. A highly respected defender and key figure in Australia’s leadership group, Kaitlin Nobbs was named Hockeyroo of the Year for 2025. A registered nurse, she is the daughter of hockey royalty. Mother Lee Capes (and aunt Michelle Capes) won gold at Seoul 1988 Olympic Games while her father Michael Nobbs played at Los Angeles 1984. Her uncle Mark Hager, current head coach of Australia men, won Olympic bronze at Atlanta 1996.
FIH team / stats page:click here.
Hockey Australia website: www.hockey.org.au
X: @hockeyroos Facebook: thehockeyroos Instagram: @hockeyaustraliaofficial
The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 begins on 15 August, with both men’s and women’s teams in action on opening day across the Netherlands and Belgium. For more information on the competition including the competition format, pools and the complete match schedule, click here.
