The opening day of the last FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifier saw strong starts from India and England women at the GMC Balayogi Hockey Ground in Hyderabad, Telangana.

India began their campaign with a commanding 4–0 victory over Uruguay in Pool B, while England also made a strong start in Pool A, defeating Italy 5–2.

Here’s how the opening day panned out, including close wins for Korea and Scotland as well.

England 5 – 2 Italy (Pool A)

World No. 7 England opened the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 qualifiers at Hyderabad’s GMC Balayogi Hockey Ground with a 5-2 victory in a high-scoring match against Italy in Pool B.

Grace Balsdon starred for England with two penalty-corner strikes. She opened the scoring in the 12th minute and completed the brace in the 32nd. In between Lottie Bingham and Elizabeth Neal scored back-to-back goals in the 15thand 16th minute to make it 3-0.

Ivanna Pessina cut England's lead to 3-1 with Italy’s first goal in the 19th minute off a penalty corner, but Anna Toman restored England’s three-goal advantage in the 27th minute off a set-piece as the score read 4-1 at half-time. Balsdon’s second goal two minutes into half-time extended England’s lead to 5-1.

Federica Carta struck Italy’s second goal in the 46th minute off a penalty corner, but the game saw no more goals in the last 14 minutes of the encounter, which gave England a comprehensive 5-2 victory in the tournament-opener.

Korea 1 – 0 Austria (Pool A)

In the second Pool B match of the opening day of the Qualifiers in Hyderabad, Austria were up against Korea, with the latter securing a narrow 1-0 victory.

Seona Kim broke the deadlock after two goal-less quarters, scoring the game’s only goal in the 34th minute.

Both the teams had zero percent conversion rate in terms of penalty corners, with Korea failing in four attempts and Austria unable to make their three PCs count.

The attacking formations on both the sides worked the best in the fourth quarter, where Austria looked for an equaliser and the Koreans for breathing space with a second goal, but none arrived.

However, the Koreans held onto their 1-0 lead for a fighting win.

Scotland 1 – 0 Wales (Pool B)

An all-European game opened proceedings in Pool A, where Scotland just about got the better of Wales to bag full points in a closely-contested match that ended 1-0.

The decisive goal was scored in the second quarter (20th minute) when Amy Costello converted a penalty corner that proved to be a match-winning strike.

The match saw few chances created by both the teams, while goalkeepers Jessica Buchanan (Scotland) and Amy Hughes (Wales) had a good game.

Scotland could have won 3-0 but for the post, which denied them twice, as Sarah Jamieson and Ellie Mackenzie found the woodwork.

On the whole, the nature of the game was largely defensive – which showed up in just six circle penetrations for Scotland and a mere three for the Welsh team.

India 4 – 0 Uruguay (Pool B)

The hosts had little trouble in their opening match of Pool B, beating Uruguay in an emphatic fashion for a 4–0 win.

India dominated proceedings with 23 circle entries and six penalty corners while Uruguay relied largely on turnovers but never threatened enough to breach the Indian defence.

India continued to exert pressure; and after a few near misses, the home team finally broke the deadlock in the 21st minute off Sunelita Toppo, who converted a rebound from a penalty corner. Uruguay earned their first penalty corner in the 29th minute, but were denied by India.

The third quarter gave India the cushion they were looking for, when Ishika found the mark in the 40thminute. Lalremsiami made it 3-0 in the 49th minute off a field goal, while Rutuja Pisal converted another field effort in the 58th minute to complete a comprehensive win.

To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Hyderabad, click here

Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers – 8 March 2026

Hyderabad, India

Result: Match 1

England 5 – 2 Italy

Player of the Match: Lily Owsley (ENG)

Umpires: Tan Cookie (SGP) and Tamara Wood (AUS)

Result: Match 2

Korea 1 – 0 Austria

Player of the Match: Lee Yuri (KOR)

Umpires: Durga Devi (IND) and Lizelotte Wolter (NED)

Result: Match 3

Scotland 1 – 0 Wales

Player of the Match: Ellie MacKenzie (SCO)

Umpires: Kim Yoon Seon (KOR) and Pauline Cuypers (BEL)

Result: Match 4

India 4 – 0 Uruguay

Player of the Match: Rutuja Dadaso Pisal (IND)

Umpires: Vanri Venter (RSA) and Gemma Calderon (ESP)