The Nations Cup comes at a crucial point in the Indian women’s programme. It is the first of three major tournaments in a compressed window, with the FIH Women’s World Cup and the Asian Games to follow. Additionally, the Nations Cup winner earns promotion to the FIH Pro League, giving the victorious nation a season of weekly high-level competition against the world’s best.

Notable Selections

Lalthantluangi and Shilpi Dabas both earned their maiden senior call-ups during the Australia tour and keep their places for Auckland. Sonam also makes the squad after scoring her first senior international goal against Australia in Perth. Marijne has kept faith with all three after their performances in the four-match friendly series.

Meanwhile, Navneet Kaur heads into the tournament as India’s most in-form forward. She stood out across both the Argentina and Australia tours, scoring in multiple matches and captaining the side in Argentina.

However, Baljeet Kaur misses out despite being part of the Australia tour squad. Hockey India have not given a reason for her absence.

What Marijne Said

Speaking to Hockey India, Marijne said the tours of Argentina and Australia have given the squad the preparation they needed. The focus now is on translating that into consistent performances across a full tournament.

“The Nations Cup is an important tournament for us. We want to go there and play with ambition to set a standard for ourselves that we can build on. We have built on those aspects in the Argentina and Australia tours, which gave us good preparation as a team. Now it is about taking the next step and showing that level consistently across a full tournament. The squad is motivated and ready for the challenge.”

India’s Fixtures in FIH Nations Cup 2026

India are in Pool A alongside Japan, the United States, and Uruguay. Their opening match is against the United States on June 15 at 16:15 IST. They then face Japan on June 16 at 18:30 IST. The pool stage concludes against Uruguay on June 18 at 16:15 IST. The semi-finals follow on June 20 and the final on June 21.

For the full schedule, what is at stake, and the Pro League promotion picture, read our FIH Nations Cup 2026 schedule and preview piece.

India’s Squad for FIH Nations Cup 2026

Goalkeepers: Savita and Bichu Devi Kharibam

Defenders: Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Ishika Chaudhary, Lalthantluangi, Shilpi Dabas, Jyoti and Nikki Pradhan

Midfielders: Salima Tete (c), Neha, Sunelita Toppo, Sakshi Rana, Deepika Soreng, Sonam and Lalremsiami

Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Ishika and Annu

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Before the team departed for Perth, Captain Salima Tete had set out what she wanted from the tour. “We want to head into the Nations Cup in Auckland with momentum and confidence. Australia will push us to our limits, and we want to use that to become a stronger, more cohesive unit. The Nations Cup itself will be another important marker for us as we build towards the Asian Games and the World Cup. We want to peak at the right time.”

How the Series Played Out

India lost the opener 1-2. Navneet Kaur converted a penalty corner for the only Indian goal. However, Australia’s Abby Wilson scored twice from penalty corners to secure the win for the hosts.

The second match ended 1-1 after regulation. Olivia Downes gave Australia an early lead. But Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam equalised in the final quarter. India then won the post-match shootout 4-2 with Navneet Kaur, Ishika Chaudhary, Annu, and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal all converting.

Read More: FIH Nations Cup 2026 (Women): Schedule, India’s Fixtures, and What Is at Stake

The third match was a different India. A disciplined defensive display kept Australia scoreless through the first half. Sonam then broke the deadlock with a field goal in the 36th minute, her first goal in senior international hockey. Lalremsiami doubled the lead in the 49th minute. As a result, India won 2-0 with a clean sheet.

The fourth match raised a question Marijne will need to answer before Auckland. Navneet Kaur struck in the second minute from a penalty corner. Deepika Soreng then doubled the lead before half-time. However, Australia scored three times in 16 minutes through Abby Wilson, Olivia Downes, and Courtney Schonell. India conceded three goals without reply after leading 2-0. The same thing happened in Argentina, where India led 2-0 in the opening match before conceding four. Consequently, how India manage a lead will be on Marijne’s agenda before Auckland.

Argentina: Where It Started

India played four matches against Argentina in Buenos Aires in April. They lost the first two 2-4 and 1-2. However, they won the third 2-1 through Navneet Kaur and Neha, both from penalty corners. The fourth ended 0-0 before India won the shootout 3-2. Navneet Kaur captained the side throughout.

The same pattern then repeated in Australia. India lost the opener, regrouped, and came back with their best performance of each tour in the third match.

After the Argentina series, Navneet Kaur said: “It isn’t easy to trail 0-2 against a world-class team like Argentina, but we showed the heart and character needed to fight back. These back-to-back wins prove that we are moving in the right direction.”

What India Can Take Into FIH Nations Cup 2026

India have played eight matches against Argentina and Australia across six weeks, both away from home. These are practice matches. However, competing against top nations on foreign soil and finding ways to respond when behind is not something a training camp can replicate.

Navneet Kaur has been the most consistent performer across both tours. She scored in Argentina, led the side as stand-in captain, and subsequently continued her form in Australia with goals in the first and final matches.

Sonam scored her first senior international goal in the third match against Australia. Meanwhile, debuts for Shilpi Dabas and Lalthantluangi show Marijne has used this window to build depth alongside results.

The Nations Cup in Auckland starts on June 15. India go there having been tested, having come from behind, and with at least one question about game management still to answer.

2026 is a big year for Indian hockey. Nations Cup. World Cup. Asian Games. A lot can go right. A lot can go wrong. Subscribe to the Give Me Hockey newsletter and follow every step of it.

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What Is the FIH Nations Cup

The FIH Nations Cup is an annual international tournament for the top-ranked nations outside the FIH Pro League. It gives teams at the next level a high-quality competitive platform, and the winner earns promotion to the following season’s FIH Pro League, provided they meet FIH participation requirements.

India won the inaugural edition in Valencia, Spain in December 2022. Spain won the second edition on home soil in Terrassa in June 2024. New Zealand claimed the third title in Santiago, Chile in February 2025, beating Ireland on a 4-2 shootout in the final after the match ended 1-1. Auckland 2026 is the fourth edition, with the Black Sticks defending on home turf.

In terms of format, eight teams compete in two pools of four. The top two from each pool advance to the semi-finals. Classification matches fill out the remaining places, with the final and third place play-off on the last day.

What Is at Stake

The Pro League spot is the headline prize. The winner of the Nations Cup earns promotion to replace the team that drops out of the bottom of the Pro League, giving them a season of weekly high-level competition against the world’s best. For nations like India who sit just outside the Pro League, it is the clearest pathway back in.

Beyond the promotion spot, though, the Nations Cup in June 2026 carries extra weight. It is the first of three major tournaments in a compressed window: Nations Cup in June, Women’s World Cup in August, Asian Games in September. Each one feeds into the next. What a team does in Auckland shapes how ready it is when it matters most.

Read More: The Federation Is Not the Dressing Room: Why Hockey India Needs Professional Administration

India’s Perspective

Head coach Sjoerd Marijne has laid out the priority order clearly. The Asian Games in Japan is the primary goal, with a gold medal there meaning direct qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics. The Nations Cup and the World Cup both serve as preparation and measurement along the way.

“The Asian Games is the most important, but it doesn’t mean we don’t want to do well in the other tournaments. We will be using the other events to see if we have improved enough,” said Marijne, who previously guided India to second-place finishes at the 2018 Asian Games and the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy.

On the pitch, India head into the Nations Cup on the back of a 2-2 series draw against World No. 2 Argentina, a result that showed the team can compete at the top level but also exposed gaps. Marijne pointed to finishing as the key area to address, noting the team averaged only 10 to 12 circle entries per game on that tour. Nevertheless, he highlighted mental strength and fitness as areas of genuine progress.

“On the mental side of things, we did really well and coped with the level they put us under. Our team has gained experience now and knows they can beat a World No. 2 side. That gives us a lot of confidence,” Marijne said.

(Quotes courtesy: Mid-Day)

India face the United States on the opening day, Japan on day two, and Uruguay on day four. All three pool matches kick off in the early to mid-evening IST window.

FIH Nations Cup Match Schedule (All Times IST)

The FIH Nations Cup is just the start of a huge season for women’s hockey. Several teams in Auckland will meet again at the World Cup in August and the Asian Games in September. Results here matter, but so does what teams learn about each other. For India, every match in Auckland is preparation for a bigger stage. Marijne has been clear about the destination. This is where the journey begins.

Schedule source: Hockey India. All times in IST and subject to change.

Where To Watch

The official broadcast partner for the FIH Women’s Nations Cup 2026 is yet to be announced. All matches will be available to stream on Watch.Hockey, the FIH’s official streaming platform.

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