FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers
FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026: Semi-final berth at stake as India face Wales
(Courtesy : Hockey India)
India are top of the points table with four points from two matches.
After two exciting games, the Indian women’s hockey team is ready to face Wales in their final Pool B match of the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026 Hyderabad, Telangana, on March 11.
With a Semi-Final spot on the line, India currently sits at the top of the points table with four points and a strong goal difference.
The top two teams from the pool will go through. If India wins or draws against Wales, they will qualify for the semi-finals. If India loses, they will stay on four points and their qualification will depend on the match between Scotland and Uruguay, and their spot could come down to goal difference.
The Indian women’s hockey team have had a strong campaign so far. They opened the tournament with a massive 4-0 win over Uruguay on March 8 and then fought hard for a 2-2 draw against Scotland yesterday.
Young forward Sunelita Toppo has been in top form, scoring in both matches. Attackers Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal have also been excellent, finding the net and creating multiple scoring opportunities.
At the back, the defence has held firm, with goalkeeper Bichu Devi making crucial saves consistently. Playing in front of a cheering home crowd in Hyderabad has also given the hosts a wonderful boost of energy.
Reflecting on the team’s performances so far, captain Salima Tete said, “After the opening two games, there is positivity in the team. The young players are taking their opportunity and have been doing very well. The team is relishing playing freely, and that is a very good thing for us.”
We want to qualify for the World Cup and become champions. That’s what we talk about when the team is together and that’s our goal,” she added.
India holds a promising record against Wales, leading the head-to-head battles 5-1. However, Wales will play hard to get their first win of the campaign, so India must stay focused to finish the pool stage on a winning note.
The Live Streaming of FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers Hyderabad, Telangana 2026 matches will be available on Star sports Khel and JioHotstar.
Where and when will India vs Wales Pool B match take place at FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026?
The final match in Pool B will be played at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on March 11 (Wednesday). The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm IST.
Who is the favourite to win the India vs Wales match in FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026?
India are the overwhelming favourites to win the tie, given their superior ranking and better form. India are ranked World No. 9 while Wales are ranked 24th in the official FIH rankings. Also Wales are also winless in the tournament and have lost both of their matches.
How has India performed so far at FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026?
India have won and drawn one match each in Pool B so far in the tournament. Sjoerd Marijne’s side have defeated Uruguay 4-0 and were held to a 2-2 draw in their two matches.
How has Wales performed so far at FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026?
Wales have lost both their matches in the tournament. They were beaten 2-3 by Uruguay and were edged past 0-1 by Scotland.
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Alex graduated in mass communication in 2016 and has been covering global sports for Khel Now since then. He is covering sports tech, igaming, sports betting and casino domain from 2017.