The International Hockey Federation (FIH) Women’s Hockey Nations Cup will be held for the first time in Valencia, Spain, from December 10th-17th, 2022. The event was awarded to Spain by the FIH Executive Board (EB). Following the advice of the EB’s Task Force on Events Bidding, which includes representatives from each of the five continental federations, the EB has made this decision.
The purpose of this new annual tournament is to provide a high-level playing field for the highest rated teams who are not members of the FIH Hockey Pro League, with the potential promotion to the FIH Hockey Pro League for the next season’s champion. Thus, the promotion-relegation system for the FIH Hockey Pro League begins with the FIH Hockey Nations Cup, with the 2023/24 FIH Hockey Nations Cup champion eligible for promotion (provided they meet the necessary requirements for it).
FIH Women’s Hockey Nations Cup
Spain, Canada, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, and South Africa are the first eight teams to qualify based on their place in the FIH World Rankings as of May 31, 2021.
“On behalf of FIH, I’d like to congratulate the Royal Spanish Hockey Federation for organizing this first edition of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup, a new competition in our portfolio that will add extra enthusiasm to our sport,” said Thierry Weil, CEO of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The stakes are high, since participation in the FIH Hockey Pro League is at risk. That could provide for some exciting, close games between top-tier squads. That’s fantastic news for the development of our sport all across the globe.
We are grateful to the International Hockey Federation for entrusting us with the organizing of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup. We will be able to host another another fantastic international tournament for female hockey players. We are honored and humbled to have been selected. According to Santiago Deó, president of the Royal Spanish Hockey Federation, “it is a chance for the women’s team to qualify for the FIH Hockey Pro League and, like the men’s team, play this magnificent hockey tournament.”
