Hyderabad, February 28 – The England women’s national hockey team has arrived in Hyderabad to participate in the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, which will be held in Hyderabad, Telangana, from March 8 to 14.
The event offers the final opportunity for teams to qualify for the 16-nation World Cup in Wavre and Amstelveen (August 15-30, 2026). Eight teams will compete in two pools: Pool A will feature Austria, England, Italy, and Korea; Pool B will include India, Scotland, Uruguay, and Wales.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semifinals. The two semifinal winners and the bronze medalist will qualify, along with the highest-ranked fourth-place finisher across both qualifying events. Matches will be played at the G. M. C. Balayogi Hockey Ground, with semifinals on March 13 and finals on March 14.
England enters the eight-nation tournament with a strong legacy. Having participated in 11 previous FIH World Cups, the team is eager to secure their spot in Belgium and the Netherlands. Their ultimate goal is to improve upon their best performance, winning a bronze medal in 2010.
The squad arrived with high energy and a clear focus. Upon arrival, Captain Flora Peel expressed her confidence in the team's current form. "We've had a really good training period in England, and before that, we were competing in the Pro League in China against some very competitive teams. The team is in great shape right now, and we're really looking forward to getting started."
Talking about their experience in India, Lili Walker shared the group's excitement and their unique approach to adapting to the Indian climate. "Many members of the team have been to India before, and we're really looking forward to the crowds and the atmosphere during the matches. To prepare for the heat, we've even been using saunas and doing everything we can to ensure we are fully prepared for the conditions," she said.
To secure one of the three coveted World Cup spots, England must perform well in Pool A. Their campaign begins against Italy on March 8, continues with the Republic of Korea on March 9, and concludes the group stage against Austria on March 11.