If world rankings are taken into consideration, teams like Italy will have to work extra hard to earn a 2026 World Cup qualification spot on Indian soil

Indian women’s hockey team will have the home advantage as they look to qualify for the World Cup in the FIH qualifier beginning in Hyderabad on March 8. India ranked 9th in FIH rankings have been clubbed with Scotland, Uruguay, Wales in Pool B. Austria, England, Italy and Korea form Pool A.

Eight-nation tournament

The eight-nation tournament offers three berths for the World Cup to be held in August in Belgium and the Netherlands. If world rankings are taken into consideration then a team like Italy will have to work extra hard to earn a 2026 World Cup qualification spot during the qualification round starting March 8.

FIH world rankings

The Italian women’s hockey team that arrived in India in Wednesday is world ranked 17. England’s world ranking is seventh. While Korea’s world ranking is 16. Austria is ranked lowly at 33.

On arrival, Italy’s team skipper Sara Puglisi said, the preparation for qualification round has gone according to plan. “We are ready to compete and achieve the results we need to qualify for the FIH Hockey World Cup,” Sara added. “That is what we hope and that’s what we have trained so hard for.”

Hyderabad leg

Of the eight nations in the Hyderabad leg of FIH World Cup qualifier, India is the highest Asian ranked team (ninth) in the FIH ranking. China, the leading Asian hockey playing nation has global ranking fourth, but has already qualified for the World Cup.

Pool stage

After the pool stage the top two teams from each group will advance to semifinals. The finalists and bronze medal winner will get an automatic berth for the World Cup. Pool A: Austria, England, Italy, Korea Pool B: India, Scotland, Uruguay, Wales.

EOM