Strong teams like England, South Korea, and Scotland began their journey in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026 on a positive note in Hyderabad, Telangana. England triumphed over Italy with a commanding 5-2 victory, while Korea clinched a close 1-0 win against Austria at the G. M. C. Balayogi Hockey Ground on Sunday.
In the first match, England’s Grace Balsdon, Lottie Bingham, Elizabeth Neal, and Anna Toman scored goals, securing a solid lead. Italy’s Ivanna Pessina and Federica Carta managed to find the net as well. Korea’s Seona Kim was the sole goal-scorer in their match against Austria.
Scotland also marked their presence with a 1-0 win over Wales at the same venue, with Amy Costello scoring the decisive goal in the second quarter. The tournament, hosting teams like India, England, Scotland, Korea, Italy, Uruguay, Wales, and Austria, aims to fill three spots for the 2026 World Cup.
The upcoming World Cup will see 16 teams in both men’s and women’s categories, with nine teams already qualified. The competition format includes two pools of four teams each, with the top two from each pool advancing to the semifinals for a chance at automatic qualification. The highest world-ranked team finishing fourth will also secure a spot at the tournament.
