In a packed Hyderabad arena, the Indian women’s hockey team stands on the brink of history in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifier 2026 semifinals against Italy. Qualification for the 2026 World Cup achieved, their mission now is tournament triumph. Pool B leaders with 7 points, they edged Scotland thanks to a superior goal tally.
Victories over Uruguay (4-0) and Wales (4-1), sandwiching a 2-2 draw with Scotland, marked a flawless run. This success confirms World Cup entry via FIH’s rule for the top-ranked fourth-placer in combined qualifiers. Santiago delivered direct spots to Chile, Australia, Ireland; Japan was fourth at rank 15. India’s rank 9 trumps that.
Opponent Italy had one win, one draw, one loss in Pool A. Navneet Kaur’s brilliance—four goals, a hat-trick in the Wales win—fuels hopes. Head-to-head since 2012: India 5, Italy 1. The semifinal could cement India’s status as a rising force.