England women eliminated from FIH Hockey World Cup after 0-0 draw with India

England's women's team were eliminated from the FIH Hockey World Cup on 20 August 2026 after a 0-0 draw with India in the group stage. David Ralph's side finished third in Pool D on four points and will contest the classification phase.

Only the top two teams in the four-team Pool D advanced to the next round, and England now move into the classification phase that determines places from 9th to 16th. The national side have not mounted a challenge in tournaments since winning Commonwealth gold in 2022, finishing fourth in the 2023 EuroHockey Nations Championship and fifth last year. Teams representing England and Great Britain have finished no higher than sixth in the FIH Pro League since a third-place finish in 2020-21, while Great Britain finished eighth at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

England opened their World Cup campaign with a 4-0 victory over South Africa on Sunday but were beaten by China two days later, conceding four before Tess Howard and Sophie Hamilton reduced the deficit. The 0-0 draw with India in their final Pool D game left them on four points and outside the two qualifying positions. That sequence of results ended England women's hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds.

England's men topped Pool D with three wins from three matches to reach the second stage of their World Cup. They defeated Pakistan 4-1 and India 4-2 before recording an 8-2 victory over Wales in their final group match on Wednesday. Those results secured first place in the men's Pool D.

The men's side move into a second-stage pool alongside India, with their 4-2 win carried forward. They will face two qualifiers from Pool A on Saturday and Monday as they attempt to reach the semi-finals. The carried-forward result means the 4-2 victory over India will count in the second-stage standings.

Both World Cups are being held in Wavre in Belgium and Amstelveen in the Netherlands. England's women will play Chile on Friday and Japan on Sunday in their classification pool for 9th-16th places.