Hyderabad, March 8 – Strong contenders England, South Korea, and Scotland began their campaigns on a winning note in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026 in Hyderabad, Telangana, on Sunday.
In the first match of the opening day, England defeated Italy with a dominant score of 5-2, while Korea beat Austria 1-0 in a close contest at the G. M. C. Balayogi Hockey Ground (Gachibowli Hockey Complex) on Sunday.
Grace Balsdon (12', 32'), Lottie Bingham (15'), Elizabeth Neal (16') and Anna Toman (27') scored for England, while Ivanna Pessina (19') and Federica Carta were the goalscorers for Italy. In the second match, Seona Kim (34') was the only goalscorer for Korea.
Later in the third match of the day, Scotland opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Wales at the G. M. C. Balayogi Hockey Ground (Gachibowli Hockey Complex) on Sunday.
Amy Costello (20') scored the winning goal for Scotland in the second quarter.
The tournament features eight teams – hosts India, England, Scotland, Korea, Italy, Uruguay, Wales, and Austria – competing for three coveted qualification spots for the global event.
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-ranked team finishing fourth in Hyderabad will also earn a place in the tournament.
