Road to the 2026 Hockey World Cup
The Chinese women's hockey squad, currently fourth in the world rankings, is preparing to make its mark at the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, an event that will kick off on 15 August across Belgium and the Netherlands.
Their journey to the tournament has been built on recent breakthroughs, most notably a decisive victory at the 2025 Women’s Asia Cup in Hangzhou, where they captured their first continental title in sixteen years and secured the Olympic berth that had long eluded them.
Zou Meirong emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with eleven goals in seven matches, while rising star Luo Yaxi earned the Best Young Player award, underscoring the blend of experience and youthful talent within the roster.
Veteran presences such as Peng Yang, Li Hong and Chen Yang, each surpassing the century of caps, have provided stability, with captain Ou Zixia, a 198‑cap stalwart, remaining a symbolic leader despite limited minutes in the Pro League season.
Under the guidance of head coach Alyson Annan, who has amassed six FIH Women’s Coach of the Year accolades, the team has added Olympic silver from Paris 2024 to its collection of historic medals, including two previous silver medals and bronze from earlier World Cups.
Li Hong, a dynamic attacking midfielder who plies her trade for Amsterdam H&BC in the Dutch Hoofdklasse, was also nominated for the 2025 FIH Player of the Year award, while goalkeeper Liu Ping found herself on the shortlist for the Best Goalkeeper prize, highlighting the squad’s depth.
The upcoming World Cup will feature both men’s and women’s competitions, with China’s women set to face a competitive field as they look to translate their recent momentum into a deep run that could rewrite the nation’s hockey narrative.