Can India still earn direct qualification for Women's FIH Hockey World Cup 2026?

Farzan has been a sports journalist since 2020, closely following Olympic sports and kabaddi.

Published at :June 21, 2025 at 9:33 AM

Modified at :June 21, 2025 at 9:33 AM

(Courtesy : Hockey India)

India will compete in the Women’s Asia Cup 2025 in Bihar later this year.

The Indian women’s hockey team are yet to win a match in the European leg of the Women’s FIH Pro League 2024-25. They have lost three matches and one on penalties in the ongoing leg and are trying to avoid relegation to the FIH Nations Cup.

The Women in Blue are placed seventh in the standings with 10 points from 12 matches, including two wins and seven losses. They have won one match on penalties and lost a couple of games in shootout so far this season. The Asian nation have a goal difference of -11, having found the back of the net 19 times and conceded 30 goals.

Also Read: Women’s FIH Pro League 2024-25: Updated points table and top 10 goalscorers

After two losses each against Australia and Argentina respectively, India will play their next match against Belgium on June 21 at Wilrijkse Plein in Antwerp. They will face Belgium again on June 22 at the same venue, before playing two matches against China on June 28 and 29 at Ernst Reuter Sportfeld in Berlin.

Can India still earn direct qualification to Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026?

No, the Indian women’s hockey team cannot earn a direct qualification for the Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, scheduled to take place in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 14 to 30. The Argentina women’s hockey team have earned a direct qualification for the showpiece event.

Belgium and the Netherlands are direct entrants into the upcoming Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup as hosts. Meanwhile, Germany have also secured a spot in the event, having finished atop the FIH Pro League 2023-24 standings last year.

When it comes to India, they will look to secure a spot in the Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 when they take the field during the Women’s Asia Cup later this year. The event is scheduled to be held from September 5 to 14 in Hangzhou, China. They will be joined by Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, and hosts China.

The winner of the Women’s Asia Cup 2025 will qualify for the Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026.

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Mohamed Farzan

Farzan is a journalist at Khel Now covering Indian Olympic sports and kabaddi. With five years of experience working with major sports organizations like Chennaiyin FC, Dabang Delhi K.C., Rajasthan Royals, and Yuva Kabaddi Series, he brings diverse expertise. Farzan has covered two Olympics, one Commonwealth Games, and one Asian Games, making his knowledge of Indian sports broad and versatile.