HYDERABAD: The India women’s national field hockey team will aim to secure a coveted berth at the upcoming FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2026 when they take the field in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026 Hyderabad, Telangana, beginning on Sunday.
The tournament will feature eight teams — hosts India, England, Scotland, Korea, Italy, Uruguay, Wales, and Austria — competing for three coveted qualification spots for the global showpiece.
At stake in Hyderabad will be three direct World Cup berths, with the teams finishing first, second and third in the tournament earning qualification for the 2026 edition. The upcoming World Cup will feature 16 teams in both the men’s and women’s competitions, with nine teams in each category already having secured qualification, setting the stage for a highly competitive qualification phase.
The tournament format divides the field into two pools of four teams, with the top two teams 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 in Hyderabad will also earn a place at the tournament.