Indian Women's Hockey Team Prepares for FIH World Cup in Europe

The Indian women's hockey team is set to finalize its preparations for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 in Europe. With two practice matches against Germany scheduled, the team aims to acclimatize and refine strategies before the tournament. Captain Salima Tete expresses confidence in the squad's readiness, looking forward to their opening match against China. The World Cup, taking place from August 15 to 30, presents a significant opportunity for India to showcase its talent on the global stage.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 29, 2026, 12:39 IST

Final Preparations for the World Cup

File image of Indian women hockey team(Photo: @ZafaronIndigo/X)

New Delhi, July 29: The Indian women's hockey team has embarked on its journey to Europe as part of the final phase of preparation for the FIH Hockey World Cup, which will take place in Belgium and the Netherlands in 2026. The team is set to engage in two practice matches against Germany prior to the tournament's commencement next month.

The players traveled from Bengaluru to Mumbai before catching a flight to Frankfurt. In Germany, they will participate in back-to-back friendly matches against the host nation on July 31 and August 1. These matches are crucial for acclimatizing to European conditions and refining team strategies ahead of the World Cup.

Following their training camp in Germany, the Indian squad will head to Amsterdam on August 2 to finalize their preparations before the competition kicks off.

India is placed in Pool D and will begin its World Cup journey against China on August 16. The team will also compete against South Africa and England in the group stage, aiming to advance to the knockout rounds.

Captain Salima Tete expressed confidence in the team's readiness after a productive training period and is eager to maintain that momentum into the World Cup.

"The entire squad is looking forward to the challenge ahead. We've had a good training block, and now it's about carrying that momentum into the practice matches and then the World Cup. Facing China in our opening game will be an important test, and we want to start the tournament on a positive note. As a team, we are determined to give our best and make the country proud," Salima stated.

The Indian team approaches this prestigious event after extensive preparation, viewing the training in Germany as a vital opportunity to enhance their skills before facing some of the top teams globally in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup is scheduled from August 15 to 30, with India aiming to leave a significant mark on the international stage.