Telangana special chief secretary

FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers: Hockey India on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Telangana to host one of the legs of the Women’s 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers, scheduled to be held in Hyderabad from March 8 to 14 this year.

The prestigious qualification tournament will feature eight international teams — hosts India, England, Scotland, Korea, Italy, Uruguay, Wales, and Austria — competing for a place at the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, which will take place from 15 to 30, 2026.

At stake in Hyderabad will be three coveted World Cup berths, with the teams finishing first, second, and third in the tournament earning direct qualification for the global showpiece. The upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup will feature 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams, with nine teams in each category already qualified, setting the stage for an intense and high-quality qualification phase.