The race for the final remaining spots at the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands heats up with 8 women’s teams battling it out in Hyderabad, Telangana, India from 8-14 March in the quest for qualification to the 16-team World Cup to be held in Wavre, Belgium and the Amstelveen, Netherlands from 15-30 August 2026.

The Stakes: Three World Cup Spots Up For Grabs

With continental championships and the FIH Hockey Pro League already determining nine qualifiers, this event represents the final avenue for these eight aspiring nations to book their ticket to hockey’s showpiece event. The tournament format splits the field into two pools of four teams, with the top two from each pool progressing to the semifinals. The winners of both semifinals — and the bronze medal match — will secure automatic qualification for the World Cup. Additionally, the highest world-ranked team finishing fourth across both women's qualifier events — Hyderabad and Santiago — will also earn a World Cup spot.

Eight Teams, Two Pools, One Goal

India’s qualifiers bring together a compelling mix of teams from across the globe:

📍 Pool A: Austria, England, Italy, Korea

📍 Pool B: India, Scotland, Uruguay, Wales

With seasoned campaigners and rising challengers mixing it up in front of a passionate crowd, expect each match to be intense and competitive!

Opening Day Showdowns

The preliminary round kicks off on Sunday, 8 March, with all games played at the G. M. C. Balayogi Hockey Ground in Hyderabad (local time):

12:45 – England vs Italy (Pool A)

15:00 – Korea vs Austria (Pool A)

17:15 – Scotland vs Wales (Pool B)

19:30 – India vs Uruguay (Pool B)

From 8-11 March the teams will battle through the pool stage to define the semifinals and classification matches. The semi-finals will be played on 13 March followed by the bronze medal match and the final on 14 March 2026.

To view the complete match schedule, click here.

Beyond the Pitch

For players, coaches and fans alike, this tournament is more than a collection of matches — it’s a defining moment in the road to the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026. As teams vie for crucial points and match-up superiority, every tackle, save and goal will count more than ever.