Hyderabad, March 12 (NationPress) Having already secured their spot in the Women’s World Cup 2026, India is not slowing down; they are now poised to claim victory in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026 in Hyderabad, Telangana, as they prepare to take on Italy in the semifinals this Friday.

India topped Pool B with seven points from three matches, boasting a superior goal difference over Scotland, who also accumulated seven points but finished second. The hosts achieved two wins and one draw during the pool stage.

The campaign kicked off with a commanding 4–0 victory against Uruguay. In their subsequent match, they battled to a tight 2–2 draw against Scotland before wrapping up the group stage with a strong 4–1 win over Wales.

India's impressive performances in the pool stage guaranteed their qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 through a tournament rule that grants a World Cup berth to the highest world-ranked team finishing fourth across the two qualifying events.

Previously, the Santiago leg of the qualifiers concluded, with Chile, Australia, and Ireland securing three direct qualification spots. Japan, finishing fourth in Santiago, is currently ranked No. 15 globally.

With India positioned ninth in the world rankings, they have at least guaranteed their status as the highest-ranked fourth-placed team across the two tournaments, thus confirming their entry into the World Cup.

After achieving one of their key goals, India now aims to sustain their momentum and strive for a place in the finals against Italy, who secured four points in Pool A, finishing second with one win, one draw, and one loss—giving India a slight psychological edge.

India is also counting on the outstanding form of forward Navneet Kaur, who currently shares the lead as the tournament's top scorer with four goals. She delivered a spectacular performance in the final pool match against Wales, netting a hat-trick to conclude the group stage impressively.

Italy will be relying on Federica Carta, their primary attacking threat, who has scored three goals in the competition thus far.

Historically, India and Italy have clashed seven times since 2012, with India winning five of those encounters, Italy claiming one victory, and one match ending in a draw, further giving the hosts a psychological advantage heading into the semifinal.

In anticipation of the semifinal, Indian chief coach Sjoerd Marijne remarked, “Qualifying for the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2026 is a significant achievement for this team, and the players deserve immense credit for their performances in the tournament. They have exhibited discipline, composure, and an attacking mindset throughout the pool stage.”

“However, our objective remains clear—we are not just here to qualify. We aim to improve with every match and ultimately win the tournament. The semifinal poses another significant challenge, and we will approach it with absolute focus and intensity.”

“Italy is a formidable team and has demonstrated their capability to challenge strong opponents in this tournament. Our focus will be on executing our strategies effectively, maintaining our structure, and continuing to play with the same energy and confidence.”