How the Indian women sealed their spot in the World Cup even before final pool match

Even before its final Pool B match of the Qualifiers against Wales on Wednesday, India had secured its place in this year’s FIH Women’s World Cup. The eventual 4-1 win was simply the icing on the cake.

Here’s how the Indians sealed their qualification for the marquee event. Under FIH rules, two qualification tournaments — one in Hyderabad and the other in Santiago, Chile — determine the final seven teams that make the World Cup cut.

The top three teams from each tournament qualify directly, while the seventh spot goes to the best fourth-placed team across both events.

Chile, Australia and Ireland claimed the three direct qualification spots in Santiago while Japan, ranked 15th in the world, finished fourth. Three teams will also qualify directly from the Hyderabad leg. India is set to face Italy in the semifinals, while England will take on Scotland in the other last-four clash on Friday.

Even if India loses both the semifinal and the third-place playoff, it will finish ahead of Japan in the race for the best fourth-placed team, thanks to a six-place advantage in the world rankings.