On the fourth day of the Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, India Women thrashed South Africa Women to grab the top spot in the Pool D points table, while Ireland and China claimed crucial close wins, along with Spain and Belgium ended with a crucial draw.
(Pool C)
New Zealand 2–3 Ireland
Sarah Hawkshaw opened the scoreline as Ireland took a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute, and later, Emelia Surridge equalised the scoreline for New Zealand in the 35th minute. Róisín Upton (49’) and Kathryn Mullan (57’) put the Irish team 3-1 ahead before Katie Doar produced a desperate fightback goal for New Zealand in the final minute, which wasn’t enough for Black Sticks Women.
In their respective tournament opening games, New Zealand lost by 5-2 against the hosts Belgium and Ireland suffered a 3-2 defeat against Spain.
Spain 1–1 Belgium
Belgium and Spain have continued the top two positions in the Pool C points table after a 1-1 draw result. Vanden Borre put the hosts Belgium lead in the 24th minute, while Lucía Jiménez scored the equaliser in the 42nd minute.
Earlier, Belgium thrashed New Zealand 5-2 while Spain claimed a 3-2 narrow win against Ireland.
All top three, Belgium (4 points), Spain (4 points), and Ireland (3 points) are in the battle to grab the top two spots in the Pool C points table.
(Pool D)
England 2–4 China
China have secured the second place in the Pool D points table after recording a crucial 4-2 win against England. In their first games of the tournament, while China claimed a 2-2 draw against India, England had a 4-0 win against South Africa.
China claimed a 4-0 win, where Zou Meirong (18’ & 35’), Chen Yang (22’), and Liu Chencheng (23’) scored goals for the latest Women’s Asia Cup champions. Tessa Howard (54’) and Sophie Hamilton (57’) scored goals for England in the last quarter, but those weren’t enough for them to secure at least one crucial point.
India 6–1 South Africa
India Women have moved to the top of the points table of Pool D after thrashing South Africa by 6-1. While South Africa can now only play the classification round at the end of the first round, where they started with a 4-0 defeat against England, India have earned four points, the same as the second-placed China, while both faced each other in their tournament opener, ending with a 2-2 result.
Against South Africa, India took a 6-0 lead with regular goals. Sunelita Toppo (11’) opened the scoreline, and then Navneet Kaur (17’), Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam (25’), Deepika Sehrawat (38’), Lalremsiami Hmar Zote (44’) added to the scorecard before Sakshi Rana (45’) scored the sixth goal for Women in Blue. Kayla de Waal scored the only goal for South Africa in the 55th minute.
For the last stage of the first round, the winner between India and England will secure the second-round place, while China needs a draw, and that too if England claim at least one point. England can’t afford to lose any points, while India and China will advance by securing a draw in their respective games.
Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026: First Round – Day 4 Points Table
Pool C
Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
Belgium | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +3 | 4 |
Spain | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
Ireland | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 0 |
Pool D
Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
India | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +5 | 4 |
China | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
England | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 3 |
South Africa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -9 | 0 |
