FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026 – from teams to format, all you need to know about the tournament

FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026 – from teams to format, all you need to know about the tournament

The 2026 Hockey World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands between August 15-30, will have its final set of participants coming in from the FIH qualifiers.

While nine men’s and women’s teams have already qualified for the showpiece through the Pro League or via victories in continental championships, seven slots are yet to be filled.

READ: Team USA withdraws from FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 qualifiers amid Iran conflict

Eight countries in each of the men’s and women’s sections will be fighting for the said places in two qualifying tournaments—Santiago and Ismailia (men)/Hyderabad (women). The teams are split into groups of four based on their global rankings. While the top three teams in each section automatically qualify, the highest-ranked fourth-placed team also gets to climb aboard the bus.

The Indian women’s team will have home advantage, as the country will be hosting one of the eight-team events in Hyderabad from March 8 to 14.

GROUPINGS

Santiago, Chile (March 1-8)

Women’s Pool A: Australia, Chile, France, Switzerland

Women’s Pool B: Japan, Ireland, Canada, Malaysia

Men’s Pool A: Chile, France, Wales, Scotland

Men’s Pool B: Canada, Ireland, Korea, Poland

Ismailia, Egypt (March 1-7)

Men’s Pool A: Egypt, England, Japan, USA* (has withdrawn amid Iran conflict)

Men’s Pool B: Austria, China, Malaysia, Pakistan

Hyderabad, India (March 8-14)

Women’s Pool A: Austria, England, Italy, Korea

Women’s Pool B: India, Scotland, Uruguay, Wales

SCHEDULE

Here’s a schedule of the final leg of the tournament in Hyderabad:

Published on Mar 05, 2026

Source link
#FIH #Hockey #World #Cup #Qualifiers #teams #format #tournament

Deadspin | D.C. United scores two late goals to rally past Orlando City   Apr 25, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Orlando City SC midfielder Tiago Souza (11) controls the ball defended by D.C. United midfielder Jackson Hopkins (25) during the first half at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Hannah Foslien-Imagn Images   Kye Rowles scored on a header in the 90th minute as D.C. United overcame its home-field jinx, rallying for a 3-2 win over injury-riddled Orlando City SC Saturday on a chilly night in Washington, D.C.  Jackson Hopkins and Louis Munteanu also scored for D.C. (3-4-3, 12 points), which snapped a six-game winless run in all competitions and won for just the second time in its last 15 MLS matches at home.  Sean Johnson added five saves as D.C. United won without their top scorer Tai Baribo, who was out with a thigh injury after scoring a hat trick in a 4-4 draw Wednesday at the New York Red Bulls.  After entering the week with an MLS-low four goals, D.C. put up seven in a four-day span.  The winning goal came off a corner kick to the opposite post by Keisuke Kurokawa. Jacob Murrell headed the ball to the middle of the box to a cutting Rowles, who scored for the first time in his two seasons as a starting defender for D.C.  Justin Ellis and Tyrese Spicer scored second-half goals to provide a 2-1 lead for Orlando City (2-7-1, 7 points), which is winless in five road games having been outscored 20-3.   Maxime Crepeau had five saves as the Lions were without three injured starters including dangerous threat Marco Pasalic, who missed his third straight MLS match, also with a thigh injury.  Hopkins scored the only goal of the first half when he took a pass from Kurokawa just outside the penalty arc, turned and fired a left-footed laser into the bottom right corner in the 10th minute.  In the 57th minute, the 18-year-old Ellis scored the first goal of his professional career, notching the equalizer on a right-footed shot from the middle of the box. Ellis’ goal came as he cleaned up a rebound from close range after Johnson stopped a header by Griffin Dorsey.  Ten minutes later, Spicer put Orlando in front when he ran down a long pass from Adrian Marin. Spicer’s shot from a tough angle deep on the left wing caromed off the inside of the top left post and into the net.  In the 84th minute, Munteanu tied it back up, 2-2, scoring his first-ever goal for D.C. when his right-footed shot from outside the box was deflected by a defender and bounced just inside the left post.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #D.C #United #scores #late #goals #rally #Orlando #CityApr 25, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Orlando City SC midfielder Tiago Souza (11) controls the ball defended by D.C. United midfielder Jackson Hopkins (25) during the first half at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Hannah Foslien-Imagn Images

Kye Rowles scored on a header in the 90th minute as D.C. United overcame its home-field jinx, rallying for a 3-2 win over injury-riddled Orlando City SC Saturday on a chilly night in Washington, D.C.

Jackson Hopkins and Louis Munteanu also scored for D.C. (3-4-3, 12 points), which snapped a six-game winless run in all competitions and won for just the second time in its last 15 MLS matches at home.

Sean Johnson added five saves as D.C. United won without their top scorer Tai Baribo, who was out with a thigh injury after scoring a hat trick in a 4-4 draw Wednesday at the New York Red Bulls.

After entering the week with an MLS-low four goals, D.C. put up seven in a four-day span.

The winning goal came off a corner kick to the opposite post by Keisuke Kurokawa. Jacob Murrell headed the ball to the middle of the box to a cutting Rowles, who scored for the first time in his two seasons as a starting defender for D.C.


Justin Ellis and Tyrese Spicer scored second-half goals to provide a 2-1 lead for Orlando City (2-7-1, 7 points), which is winless in five road games having been outscored 20-3.

Maxime Crepeau had five saves as the Lions were without three injured starters including dangerous threat Marco Pasalic, who missed his third straight MLS match, also with a thigh injury.

Hopkins scored the only goal of the first half when he took a pass from Kurokawa just outside the penalty arc, turned and fired a left-footed laser into the bottom right corner in the 10th minute.

In the 57th minute, the 18-year-old Ellis scored the first goal of his professional career, notching the equalizer on a right-footed shot from the middle of the box. Ellis’ goal came as he cleaned up a rebound from close range after Johnson stopped a header by Griffin Dorsey.

Ten minutes later, Spicer put Orlando in front when he ran down a long pass from Adrian Marin. Spicer’s shot from a tough angle deep on the left wing caromed off the inside of the top left post and into the net.

In the 84th minute, Munteanu tied it back up, 2-2, scoring his first-ever goal for D.C. when his right-footed shot from outside the box was deflected by a defender and bounced just inside the left post.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #D.C #United #scores #late #goals #rally #Orlando #City">Deadspin | D.C. United scores two late goals to rally past Orlando City   Apr 25, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Orlando City SC midfielder Tiago Souza (11) controls the ball defended by D.C. United midfielder Jackson Hopkins (25) during the first half at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Hannah Foslien-Imagn Images   Kye Rowles scored on a header in the 90th minute as D.C. United overcame its home-field jinx, rallying for a 3-2 win over injury-riddled Orlando City SC Saturday on a chilly night in Washington, D.C.  Jackson Hopkins and Louis Munteanu also scored for D.C. (3-4-3, 12 points), which snapped a six-game winless run in all competitions and won for just the second time in its last 15 MLS matches at home.  Sean Johnson added five saves as D.C. United won without their top scorer Tai Baribo, who was out with a thigh injury after scoring a hat trick in a 4-4 draw Wednesday at the New York Red Bulls.  After entering the week with an MLS-low four goals, D.C. put up seven in a four-day span.  The winning goal came off a corner kick to the opposite post by Keisuke Kurokawa. Jacob Murrell headed the ball to the middle of the box to a cutting Rowles, who scored for the first time in his two seasons as a starting defender for D.C.  Justin Ellis and Tyrese Spicer scored second-half goals to provide a 2-1 lead for Orlando City (2-7-1, 7 points), which is winless in five road games having been outscored 20-3.   Maxime Crepeau had five saves as the Lions were without three injured starters including dangerous threat Marco Pasalic, who missed his third straight MLS match, also with a thigh injury.  Hopkins scored the only goal of the first half when he took a pass from Kurokawa just outside the penalty arc, turned and fired a left-footed laser into the bottom right corner in the 10th minute.  In the 57th minute, the 18-year-old Ellis scored the first goal of his professional career, notching the equalizer on a right-footed shot from the middle of the box. Ellis’ goal came as he cleaned up a rebound from close range after Johnson stopped a header by Griffin Dorsey.  Ten minutes later, Spicer put Orlando in front when he ran down a long pass from Adrian Marin. Spicer’s shot from a tough angle deep on the left wing caromed off the inside of the top left post and into the net.  In the 84th minute, Munteanu tied it back up, 2-2, scoring his first-ever goal for D.C. when his right-footed shot from outside the box was deflected by a defender and bounced just inside the left post.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #D.C #United #scores #late #goals #rally #Orlando #City

Deadspin | T-wolves star Anthony Edwards (knee) exits game vs. Nuggets  Apr 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Cam Johnson (23) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images   Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards injured his left knee and needed help to get to the locker room in the second quarter of Saturday night’s home playoff game against the Denver Nuggets.  Edwards leaped to try to block a shot and landed awkwardly on his left leg. He immediately dropped to the court and clutched his knee.  Moments later, team officials helped Edwards hobble off the court and toward the locker room. He put little weight on his left leg as he exited.  Edwards had five points and three rebounds in 18 minutes. The Timberwolves led the best-of-seven, first-round Western Conference series 2-1 going into Saturday’s Game 4.   A four-time All-Star, Edwards led the Timberwolves with 28.8 points per game during the regular season. He averaged 23 points per game in the first three contests of the postseason.  Edwards was the second Timberwolves player to leave Game 4. In the first quarter, guard Donte DiVincenzo left because of a non-contact injury on his right leg.  -Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Twolves #star #Anthony #Edwards #knee #exits #game #NuggetsApr 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Cam Johnson (23) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards injured his left knee and needed help to get to the locker room in the second quarter of Saturday night’s home playoff game against the Denver Nuggets.

Edwards leaped to try to block a shot and landed awkwardly on his left leg. He immediately dropped to the court and clutched his knee.

Moments later, team officials helped Edwards hobble off the court and toward the locker room. He put little weight on his left leg as he exited.


Edwards had five points and three rebounds in 18 minutes. The Timberwolves led the best-of-seven, first-round Western Conference series 2-1 going into Saturday’s Game 4.

A four-time All-Star, Edwards led the Timberwolves with 28.8 points per game during the regular season. He averaged 23 points per game in the first three contests of the postseason.

Edwards was the second Timberwolves player to leave Game 4. In the first quarter, guard Donte DiVincenzo left because of a non-contact injury on his right leg.

-Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Twolves #star #Anthony #Edwards #knee #exits #game #Nuggets">Deadspin | T-wolves star Anthony Edwards (knee) exits game vs. Nuggets  Apr 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Cam Johnson (23) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images   Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards injured his left knee and needed help to get to the locker room in the second quarter of Saturday night’s home playoff game against the Denver Nuggets.  Edwards leaped to try to block a shot and landed awkwardly on his left leg. He immediately dropped to the court and clutched his knee.  Moments later, team officials helped Edwards hobble off the court and toward the locker room. He put little weight on his left leg as he exited.  Edwards had five points and three rebounds in 18 minutes. The Timberwolves led the best-of-seven, first-round Western Conference series 2-1 going into Saturday’s Game 4.   A four-time All-Star, Edwards led the Timberwolves with 28.8 points per game during the regular season. He averaged 23 points per game in the first three contests of the postseason.  Edwards was the second Timberwolves player to leave Game 4. In the first quarter, guard Donte DiVincenzo left because of a non-contact injury on his right leg.  -Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Twolves #star #Anthony #Edwards #knee #exits #game #Nuggets

Post Comment