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 Irish women’s team, ranked #12 in the world.
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It would be impossible to write about the Green Army without referencing their astonishing run at the FIH Hockey World Cup London 2018. Returning to the tournament after a 16-year absence as the second-lowest ranked team, Ireland defied every expectation to claim a remarkable silver medal. Their history-making performances captured the imagination of fans around the world and earned widespread recognition back home, becoming the first Irish team in any sport, men or women, to reach a World Cup final.
Their third-place finish at the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in Santiago (CHI) marked another milestone for Irish hockey. By securing qualification for a third successive World Cup for the first time, Ireland underlined their growing status as regular competitors at the sport's highest level. Gareth Grundie's side swept through the pool phase with victories over Malaysia (5-0), Japan (2-1) and Canada (5-1), before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Australia in the semi-finals. They responded superbly, overcoming Japan in a shoot-out to secure third place, with goalkeeper Elizabeth Murphy beaten only once in the one-on-ones. Midfielder Niamh Carey was named Player of the Tournament, while penalty corner specialist Caoimhe Perdue finished as joint top scorer with three goals.
Ireland endured a difficult debut season in the FIH Hockey Pro League, finishing bottom of the standings with two victories. However, an impressive 3-1 win over World Cup pool opponents Spain, thanks to goals from Emily Kealy, Niamh Carey and Sarah McAuley, served as a reminder that the Green Army are more than capable of upsetting the odds.
Nickname: Green Army
How they qualified: 3rd place - 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers, Santiago (CHI)
Notable honours: FIH Hockey World Cup silver medallists (2018), 11th place – FIH Hockey World Cup (1994, 2022), 2nd place – FIH Nations Cup (2023-24, 2024-25), 5th place – EuroHockey Championship (2019, 2023), 9th place – FIH Hockey Pro League (2025-26)
Rank in previous WC editions: 1986 – 12th, 1994 – 11th, 2002 – 15th, 2018 – 2nd, 2022 – 11th
Head coach: Gareth Grundie. Grundie served as Ireland's assistant coach between 2018 and 2021 before taking charge of the Czech Republic women, a role he held until returning as Ireland head coach in October 2024. He is widely respected for his athlete-centred approach and commitment to building a high-performance culture.
Quote: Gareth Grundie: “There is no denying that the World Cup is a competition that has a special significance for the team. For this group, this year’s FIH Hockey World Cup is an opportunity to leave a legacy of their own. The last few months, between the Qualifiers and the FIH Hockey Pro League, have given us lots of opportunities to test ourselves against some of the best teams in the World. We have learned first-hand, and also shown the world, that we can go toe-to-toe with these teams, something we intend to continue doing in this World Cup.”
One to watch: Katie Mullan. A fearless forward who never shirks the physical battle, 32-year-old Mullan is one of Ireland's most inspirational figures. She has scored 89 goals in 261 international appearances (at the time of writing) and is one of four members of Ireland's current FIH Hockey Pro League squad who also featured in the team's historic World Cup silver-medal-winning campaign in 2018, alongside goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran, Elena Tice and Roisin Upton.
FIH team / stats page: click here.
Hockey Ireland website: https://hockey.ie
X: @irishhockey Facebook: Hockey Ireland Instagram: hockey_ireland
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.
