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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

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Men’s Pool A: Egypt, England, Japan, USA* (has withdrawn amid Iran conflict)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

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Deadspin | Randy Vasquez, Padres hand Rockies rare 1-0 home defeat Apr 21, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vasquez (98) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Randy Vasquez pitched seven shutout innings and allowed just three hits for the San Diego Padres, who squeaked out a rare 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday in Denver. It marked just the fourth time in Rockies history they lost a 1-0 game at Coors Field. The other three instances happened in 2006, with the Milwaukee Brewers last beating Colorado by that score on Aug. 1, 2006. Vasquez (2-0) struck out five without issuing a walk in San Diego’s third straight win. The right-hander outdueled Chase Dollander (2-2), who threw six strong innings but had a lapse of wildness in the sixth that sent the Rockies their second straight defeat. Dollander, who came in the second after Rockies opener Jimmy Herget struck out the side in the first, allowed a one-out double to Jake Cronenworth. After Ramon Laureano struck out, Fernando Tatis hit a ground-ball single that hit off Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros to put runners at the corners. Dollander then hit Jackson Merrill with a pitch to load the bases and walked Manny Machado to force home Cronenworth. The Rockies right-hander allowed just three hits and a walk while plunking two Padres. He struck out nine, tying a career high he set last Thursday in Houston. Tatis finished 2-for-4 and was the only hitter for either team with multiple hits. The squads combined for just nine hits. Hunter Goodman singled off Vasquez to lead off the Rockies’ fourth, but he was the last baserunner the Padres starter allowed. Vasquez retired the last 12 batters he faced. Jason Adam pitched a perfect eighth in relief with a strikeout. Closer Mason Miller, who pitched in three of the Padres’ previous four games, stayed in the bullpen Tuesday as Adrian Morejon pitched the ninth. Morejon struck out Edouard Julien and Mickey Moniak to start the inning before Goodman flied out to center, giving the left-hander his first save of the season. Colorado lost despite striking out 15 Padres. The last time San Diego won despite striking out that many times took place on July 23, 2022, when the Padres won 2-1 on the road against the New York Mets. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Randy #Vasquez #Padres #hand #Rockies #rare #home #defeatApr 21, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vasquez (98) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Randy Vasquez pitched seven shutout innings and allowed just three hits for the San Diego Padres, who squeaked out a rare 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday in Denver.

It marked just the fourth time in Rockies history they lost a 1-0 game at Coors Field. The other three instances happened in 2006, with the Milwaukee Brewers last beating Colorado by that score on Aug. 1, 2006.

Vasquez (2-0) struck out five without issuing a walk in San Diego’s third straight win. The right-hander outdueled Chase Dollander (2-2), who threw six strong innings but had a lapse of wildness in the sixth that sent the Rockies their second straight defeat.

Dollander, who came in the second after Rockies opener Jimmy Herget struck out the side in the first, allowed a one-out double to Jake Cronenworth. After Ramon Laureano struck out, Fernando Tatis hit a ground-ball single that hit off Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros to put runners at the corners.

Dollander then hit Jackson Merrill with a pitch to load the bases and walked Manny Machado to force home Cronenworth.


The Rockies right-hander allowed just three hits and a walk while plunking two Padres. He struck out nine, tying a career high he set last Thursday in Houston.

Tatis finished 2-for-4 and was the only hitter for either team with multiple hits. The squads combined for just nine hits.

Hunter Goodman singled off Vasquez to lead off the Rockies’ fourth, but he was the last baserunner the Padres starter allowed. Vasquez retired the last 12 batters he faced. Jason Adam pitched a perfect eighth in relief with a strikeout.

Closer Mason Miller, who pitched in three of the Padres’ previous four games, stayed in the bullpen Tuesday as Adrian Morejon pitched the ninth. Morejon struck out Edouard Julien and Mickey Moniak to start the inning before Goodman flied out to center, giving the left-hander his first save of the season.

Colorado lost despite striking out 15 Padres. The last time San Diego won despite striking out that many times took place on July 23, 2022, when the Padres won 2-1 on the road against the New York Mets.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Randy #Vasquez #Padres #hand #Rockies #rare #home #defeat">Deadspin | Randy Vasquez, Padres hand Rockies rare 1-0 home defeat Apr 21, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vasquez (98) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Randy Vasquez pitched seven shutout innings and allowed just three hits for the San Diego Padres, who squeaked out a rare 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday in Denver. It marked just the fourth time in Rockies history they lost a 1-0 game at Coors Field. The other three instances happened in 2006, with the Milwaukee Brewers last beating Colorado by that score on Aug. 1, 2006. Vasquez (2-0) struck out five without issuing a walk in San Diego’s third straight win. The right-hander outdueled Chase Dollander (2-2), who threw six strong innings but had a lapse of wildness in the sixth that sent the Rockies their second straight defeat. Dollander, who came in the second after Rockies opener Jimmy Herget struck out the side in the first, allowed a one-out double to Jake Cronenworth. After Ramon Laureano struck out, Fernando Tatis hit a ground-ball single that hit off Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros to put runners at the corners. Dollander then hit Jackson Merrill with a pitch to load the bases and walked Manny Machado to force home Cronenworth. The Rockies right-hander allowed just three hits and a walk while plunking two Padres. He struck out nine, tying a career high he set last Thursday in Houston. Tatis finished 2-for-4 and was the only hitter for either team with multiple hits. The squads combined for just nine hits. Hunter Goodman singled off Vasquez to lead off the Rockies’ fourth, but he was the last baserunner the Padres starter allowed. Vasquez retired the last 12 batters he faced. Jason Adam pitched a perfect eighth in relief with a strikeout. Closer Mason Miller, who pitched in three of the Padres’ previous four games, stayed in the bullpen Tuesday as Adrian Morejon pitched the ninth. Morejon struck out Edouard Julien and Mickey Moniak to start the inning before Goodman flied out to center, giving the left-hander his first save of the season. Colorado lost despite striking out 15 Padres. The last time San Diego won despite striking out that many times took place on July 23, 2022, when the Padres won 2-1 on the road against the New York Mets. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Randy #Vasquez #Padres #hand #Rockies #rare #home #defeat

IPL 2026 has been a double whammy for Venkatesh Iyer. So strong is the Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad that he has featured in just one of six games.

And in that match, because of the Impact Player rule, the all-rounder could only showcase one of his two skills.

But the 31-year-old, who played leading roles in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title dash in 2024 and the runner-up finish in 2021, remains upbeat.

“I am not used to sitting out, but as someone who places the team above everything else, it’s my duty to adhere to the environment,” Venkatesh, who was signed for Rs. 7 crore, told reporters on Wednesday. “RCB is the defending champion. To tinker with a winning combination is not always the smartest move.

“Sitting in the wings doesn’t mean that I am not part of the plan. I got one opportunity and I was extremely delighted that I scored (29 n.o., from 15 balls versus Rajasthan Royals). Right now, I am backing the boys 100 per cent to do the job.”

Interestingly, from the 2023 season when the Impact Player rule was introduced, Venkatesh has bowled all of six balls in 41 outings.

“Impact Player [rule] never stopped a Hardik [Pandya] or a [Andre] Russell or a [Sunil] Narine from bowling four overs,” Venkatesh opined. “It’s not stopping Nitish Reddy either. It actually pushes you to be the best all-rounder version that you can be.

“But it does curtail the opportunity for the one- and two-over bowlers. If I am the captain, I need to figure out how to use my five [specialist] bowlers and how to give my sixth [part-time] bowler a go. But here, your sixth bowler is also a specialist bowler. So there is cushion for strategising.”

Venkatesh, though, is not giving up on his bowling.

“I know that I won’t be bowling four overs [in white-ball cricket]. So I try to identify someone who has played a lot of red-ball cricket.

“I had Mitchell Starc [at KKR in 2024]. This year, I have Josh Hazlewood. I make it a point to have conversations because I want to win Madhya Pradesh the Ranji Trophy once again. And I know that I can do it with a ball in hand.”

Published on Apr 22, 2026

#IPL #Venkatesh #Iyer #limited #chances #RCB #Sitting #wings #doesnt #part #plan">IPL 2026: Venkatesh Iyer on limited chances at RCB — Sitting in the wings doesn’t mean I am not part of the plan IPL 2026 has been a double whammy for Venkatesh Iyer. So strong is the Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad that he has featured in just one of six games.And in that match, because of the Impact Player rule, the all-rounder could only showcase one of his two skills.But the 31-year-old, who played leading roles in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title dash in 2024 and the runner-up finish in 2021, remains upbeat.“I am not used to sitting out, but as someone who places the team above everything else, it’s my duty to adhere to the environment,” Venkatesh, who was signed for Rs. 7 crore, told reporters on Wednesday. “RCB is the defending champion. To tinker with a winning combination is not always the smartest move.“Sitting in the wings doesn’t mean that I am not part of the plan. I got one opportunity and I was extremely delighted that I scored (29 n.o., from 15 balls versus Rajasthan Royals). Right now, I am backing the boys 100 per cent to do the job.”Interestingly, from the 2023 season when the Impact Player rule was introduced, Venkatesh has bowled all of six balls in 41 outings.“Impact Player [rule] never stopped a Hardik [Pandya] or a [Andre] Russell or a [Sunil] Narine from bowling four overs,” Venkatesh opined. “It’s not stopping Nitish Reddy either. It actually pushes you to be the best all-rounder version that you can be.“But it does curtail the opportunity for the one- and two-over bowlers. If I am the captain, I need to figure out how to use my five [specialist] bowlers and how to give my sixth [part-time] bowler a go. But here, your sixth bowler is also a specialist bowler. So there is cushion for strategising.”Venkatesh, though, is not giving up on his bowling.“I know that I won’t be bowling four overs [in white-ball cricket]. So I try to identify someone who has played a lot of red-ball cricket.“I had Mitchell Starc [at KKR in 2024]. This year, I have Josh Hazlewood. I make it a point to have conversations because I want to win Madhya Pradesh the Ranji Trophy once again. And I know that I can do it with a ball in hand.”Published on Apr 22, 2026 #IPL #Venkatesh #Iyer #limited #chances #RCB #Sitting #wings #doesnt #part #plan

Deadspin | NHL roundup: Lightning rally, beat Canadiens in OT to even series Apr 21, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser (90) and defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) react after beating the Montreal Canadiens in overtime during game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images J.J. Moser scored 12:48 into overtime, giving the host Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday and evening their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at one win each. Tampa Bay fully controlled the game in the extra period and was rewarded when Moser found the net. He gained the puck off a faceoff win in the offensive zone, worked his way to a shooting position at the top of the right circle and wired a top-corner shot for his first career playoff tally. Montreal, which won Game 1 in overtime, was outshot 9-0 in overtime of Game 2. The series shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Friday. Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel collected a goal and an assist. Nikita Kucherov tallied once, Anthony Cirelli collected two assists and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves for Tampa Bay, which snapped a collection of playoff swoons. Avalanche 2, Kings 1 (OT) Nicolas Roy scored at 7:44 of overtime to lift Colorado to a win against Los Angeles in Denver, giving the Avalanche a 2-0 lead in a Western Conference first-round playoff series. Gabriel Landeskog scored the tying goal late in regulation and Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves for the Avalanche. During the regular season, Wedgewood led the NHL in goals-against average (2.02) and save percentage (.921). Anton Forsberg made 34 saves for the Kings in his second career postseason start, both in the current series. He has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his past nine starts. Bruins 4, Sabres 2 Visiting Boston scored three second-period goals and held off a late Buffalo rally to even the teams’ Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series at one victory apiece. Viktor Arvidsson scored in the last two periods, giving the Bruins 1-0 and 4-0 leads. Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha also lit the lamp for Boston, which heads home for Game 3 of the best-of-seven series on Thursday. Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves. Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scored as Buffalo climbed within 4-2 in the closing minutes. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed four goals on 19 shots before Alex Lyon entered in relief following Arvidsson’s second marker, which came just 16 seconds into the third period. Mammoth 3, Golden Knights 2 Logan Cooley scored the go-ahead goal on a rebound with six minutes remaining to give Utah its first playoff win in franchise history over Vegas in Game 2 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Las Vegas. Cooley buried a rebound of a Dylan Guenther shot, evening the best-of-seven series at one victory apiece. Guenther had a goal and an assist, Kailer Yamamoto had two assists and MacKenzie Weegar also scored. Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves, including a close-in shot by Mark Stone from the left side of the net with five seconds left to seal the win. Stone and Ivan Barbashev each scored a goal and Jack Eichel had two assists for Vegas, which lost for the first time in regulation in 10 games (8-1-1) under coach John Tortorella. Carter Hart finished with 27 saves. Game 3 is Friday in Salt Lake City. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #NHL #roundup #Lightning #rally #beat #Canadiens #seriesApr 21, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser (90) and defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) react after beating the Montreal Canadiens in overtime during game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

J.J. Moser scored 12:48 into overtime, giving the host Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday and evening their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at one win each.

Tampa Bay fully controlled the game in the extra period and was rewarded when Moser found the net. He gained the puck off a faceoff win in the offensive zone, worked his way to a shooting position at the top of the right circle and wired a top-corner shot for his first career playoff tally.

Montreal, which won Game 1 in overtime, was outshot 9-0 in overtime of Game 2. The series shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Friday.

Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel collected a goal and an assist. Nikita Kucherov tallied once, Anthony Cirelli collected two assists and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves for Tampa Bay, which snapped a collection of playoff swoons.

Avalanche 2, Kings 1 (OT)

Nicolas Roy scored at 7:44 of overtime to lift Colorado to a win against Los Angeles in Denver, giving the Avalanche a 2-0 lead in a Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Gabriel Landeskog scored the tying goal late in regulation and Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves for the Avalanche. During the regular season, Wedgewood led the NHL in goals-against average (2.02) and save percentage (.921).

Anton Forsberg made 34 saves for the Kings in his second career postseason start, both in the current series. He has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his past nine starts.


Bruins 4, Sabres 2

Visiting Boston scored three second-period goals and held off a late Buffalo rally to even the teams’ Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series at one victory apiece.

Viktor Arvidsson scored in the last two periods, giving the Bruins 1-0 and 4-0 leads. Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha also lit the lamp for Boston, which heads home for Game 3 of the best-of-seven series on Thursday. Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves.

Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scored as Buffalo climbed within 4-2 in the closing minutes. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed four goals on 19 shots before Alex Lyon entered in relief following Arvidsson’s second marker, which came just 16 seconds into the third period.

Mammoth 3, Golden Knights 2

Logan Cooley scored the go-ahead goal on a rebound with six minutes remaining to give Utah its first playoff win in franchise history over Vegas in Game 2 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Las Vegas.

Cooley buried a rebound of a Dylan Guenther shot, evening the best-of-seven series at one victory apiece. Guenther had a goal and an assist, Kailer Yamamoto had two assists and MacKenzie Weegar also scored. Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves, including a close-in shot by Mark Stone from the left side of the net with five seconds left to seal the win.

Stone and Ivan Barbashev each scored a goal and Jack Eichel had two assists for Vegas, which lost for the first time in regulation in 10 games (8-1-1) under coach John Tortorella. Carter Hart finished with 27 saves. Game 3 is Friday in Salt Lake City.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #NHL #roundup #Lightning #rally #beat #Canadiens #series">Deadspin | NHL roundup: Lightning rally, beat Canadiens in OT to even series Apr 21, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser (90) and defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) react after beating the Montreal Canadiens in overtime during game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images J.J. Moser scored 12:48 into overtime, giving the host Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday and evening their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at one win each. Tampa Bay fully controlled the game in the extra period and was rewarded when Moser found the net. He gained the puck off a faceoff win in the offensive zone, worked his way to a shooting position at the top of the right circle and wired a top-corner shot for his first career playoff tally. Montreal, which won Game 1 in overtime, was outshot 9-0 in overtime of Game 2. The series shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Friday. Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel collected a goal and an assist. Nikita Kucherov tallied once, Anthony Cirelli collected two assists and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves for Tampa Bay, which snapped a collection of playoff swoons. Avalanche 2, Kings 1 (OT) Nicolas Roy scored at 7:44 of overtime to lift Colorado to a win against Los Angeles in Denver, giving the Avalanche a 2-0 lead in a Western Conference first-round playoff series. Gabriel Landeskog scored the tying goal late in regulation and Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves for the Avalanche. During the regular season, Wedgewood led the NHL in goals-against average (2.02) and save percentage (.921). Anton Forsberg made 34 saves for the Kings in his second career postseason start, both in the current series. He has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his past nine starts. Bruins 4, Sabres 2 Visiting Boston scored three second-period goals and held off a late Buffalo rally to even the teams’ Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series at one victory apiece. Viktor Arvidsson scored in the last two periods, giving the Bruins 1-0 and 4-0 leads. Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha also lit the lamp for Boston, which heads home for Game 3 of the best-of-seven series on Thursday. Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves. Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scored as Buffalo climbed within 4-2 in the closing minutes. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed four goals on 19 shots before Alex Lyon entered in relief following Arvidsson’s second marker, which came just 16 seconds into the third period. Mammoth 3, Golden Knights 2 Logan Cooley scored the go-ahead goal on a rebound with six minutes remaining to give Utah its first playoff win in franchise history over Vegas in Game 2 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Las Vegas. Cooley buried a rebound of a Dylan Guenther shot, evening the best-of-seven series at one victory apiece. Guenther had a goal and an assist, Kailer Yamamoto had two assists and MacKenzie Weegar also scored. Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves, including a close-in shot by Mark Stone from the left side of the net with five seconds left to seal the win. Stone and Ivan Barbashev each scored a goal and Jack Eichel had two assists for Vegas, which lost for the first time in regulation in 10 games (8-1-1) under coach John Tortorella. Carter Hart finished with 27 saves. Game 3 is Friday in Salt Lake City. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #NHL #roundup #Lightning #rally #beat #Canadiens #series

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