Indian team celebrates their semifinal victory in Women's Nation Cup. Photo: FIH
Auckland, New Zealand: The penultimate day of action from the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup New Zealand 2026 saw India and New Zealand secure crucial wins in the semi-finals, sending them to the title decider, with the opportunity to qualify for the FIH Hockey Pro League within their grasp.
India were dominant in their semi-final against Chile, scoring 6 unanswered goals to stroll into the final. New Zealand had to go the longer route though, needing shoot-outs to defeat USA to make their way into the final.
In the earlier classification matches, Japan and Korea got the better of France and Uruguay respectively, and will play for the 5-6 place tomorrow, while the losing teams will play for the 7-8 position.
Japan 1-1 France (SO: 3-1) (5-8 Place)
Japan were quick off the block and dominated possession and territory for most of the opening quarter, but it was France who opened the scoring with 16-year old Violette Blanquart stealing possession in the final quarter and calmly slotting it past the Japanese keeper to get her first career goal for France. Japan continued to dominate through the second quarter and finally found a leveller from a powerful reverse hit by Hiroka Murayama.
Japan continued to search for the lead in the second half, while France remained sharp in the counter-attacks, but both defences were dominant as the second-half remained goalless and the game headed into a shoot-out.
Japan showed their mettle and tournament experience in the shoot-outs, scoring on three of their four attempts, while France saw three of their first four attempts saved, giving Japan the win and sending them through to the 5-6 place match tomorrow. France will play in the 7-8 place match on the final day.
Japanese captain Amiru Shimada was awarded player of the match and said: “Shoot-outs are always nerve-wracking, but I am the captain of the team and I need to be confident. I am very happy the team was able to come away with the win in the shoot-outs.”
Korea 2-1 Uruguay (5-8 Place)
Korea against Uruguay followed a pattern not too dissimilar to the opening match of the day. Korea dominated possession and territory while Uruguay looked dangerous on quick counter attacks. After a goalless opening quarter, Korea found the opener early in the second quarter with Jeonghin Kim finding the finish after a scramble in front of the Chilean goal that included a save and a shot coming off the post.
Korea’s narrow one goal lead was never too secure and Uruguay made them pay with Manuela Vilar jinking through the defence and smashing a reverse hit past the Korean defence and a wrong-footed goalkeeper. The parity didn’t last for very long, as Seungae Park scored in the 55th minute of the game. A yellow card for Martina Rago, seconds after the Korean goal, ended Uruguay’s chances of making a comeback and confirmed Korea’s place in the 5-6 place match tomorrow against Japan. Uruguay will face France in the 7-8 place decider.
Manuela Vilar was awarded player of the match and said: “Not happy with the result. We played well but couldn’t finish our chances. Tomorrow it’s France we are up against and we will focus on our finishing and hopefully close out the event with a win.”
India 6-0 Chile (Semi-final)
It was world #9 India taking on #11 Chile in the opening semi-final, which fans would have reasonably expected to be a close encounter, but the Asian side came racing out of the blocks and before Chile knew what had hit them, they were down 4-0 at half time. The goals came from Navneet Kaur and Deepike, with both getting a brace each. India’s pace and pressing left Chile railing, the perfect example for which was India’s second goal. Salima Tete burst down the left side, leaving her markers in the dust, before smashing in a pinpoint reverse hit cross into the circle, that Navneet Kaur slid in and deflected into the goal, scoring possibly the goal of the tournament!
India continued to dominate in the second half, not letting go of the high press and turning the ball over off the Chilean defence multiple times. They added a fifth goal early in the third quarter from a deflection by Neha off a Deepika drag flick. Rutuja Dadaso Pisal added a sixth and final goal for India from a vicious reverse hit, putting the scoreline beyond any doubt and sending India through to the final, with their confidence levels blasting through the roof.
Indian captain Salima Tete, whose pace and passing caused the Chilean defence problems all evening, was awarded player of the match and said: “I am very happy with the performance today. We finally scored many goals, converting our chances, and that has been important for us. For tomorrow in the final, we will aim to continue converting our chances and score more goals, then I am sure we can win.”
New Zealand 1-1 USA (SO: 4-1) (Semi-final)
The first half of the second semi-final went much differently to the game that it followed. A nervy defensive battle unfolded with USA dominating the possession and creating more chances. But for the entirety of the half they were thwarted by the defensive genius of Grace O’Hanlon in the Black Stick’s goal. New Zealand failed to create many clear cut chances as the sides headed into the break at 0-0.
The second half finally saw the opening goal of the game as the United States finally breached O’Hanlon’s defence with their fourth penalty corner of the game. The goal jerked New Zealand into action and a powerful spell of play midway through the third quarter led to 5 penalty corners for the hosts and they converted on the fifth attempt through a variation scored by Hannah Cotter. With no more goals coming in regulation time, the match headed into a shoot-out to decide the second finalist.
The shoot-outs call for big players to step up to the big moments and that is exactly what Grace O’Hanlon did saving the first two attempts by the USA attackers, while the Black Sticks attackers all slotted theirs in, to take the win by a 4-1 margin and setting up an enticing final against India tomorrow.
Grace O’Hanlon was awarded the player of the match for her heroics in regulation time as well as the shoot-outs and said: “USA are a little bit of our bogey team, they are so fit, they are such athletes, so really happy we could get the win even if it was scrappy, that is what we had to do and we got it done.”
FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup – 20 June, 2026
North Harbour Hockey Stadium
Auckland, New Zealand
Match 1
Japan 1-1 France (SO: 3-1) (5-8 Place)
Player of the match: Amiru Shimada (JPN)
Umpires: Valerie Koh (SGP), Kristy Robertson (AUS), Meghan McLennan (CAN – Video)
Match 2
Korea 2-1 Uruguay (5-8 Place)
Player of the match: Manuela Vilar (URU)
Umpires: Haroon Rashid (PAK), Benjamin Peters (USA), Xiaoying Liu (CHN – Video)
Match 3
India 6-0 Chile (Semi-final)
Player of the match: Salima Tete (IND)
Umpires: Lani Nichol (NZL), Amber Church (NZL), Benjamin Peters (USA – Video)
Match 4
New Zealand 1-1 USA (SO: 4-1) (Semi-final)
Player of the match: Grace O’Hanlon (NZL)
Umpires: Xiaoying Liu (CHN), Cassidy Gallagher (AUS), Kristy Robertson (AUS – video)
–FIH Press Release
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