Standings from the women’s FIH Nations Cup: field hockey

Kelsey Bing earned her 100th cap against Japan. Photo: USA Field Hockey

As the 2026 FIH Nations Cup moves toward its conclusion, pool play has already provided a picture of which teams have found rhythm, which have struggled for consistency, and which moments may shape the final stretch of the tournament.

Pool A standings

1.       India, 3-0

2.       USA, 2-1

3.       Japan, 1-2

4.       Uruguay, 0-3

India’s unbeaten run has set the pace in Pool A, but the United States’ 2-1 record keeps them firmly in contention. The standings suggest a pool defined less by blowouts than by momentum swings, narrow margins, and the ability to convert pressure into goals.

USA vs. India: A missed opportunity after a fast start

In their opening meeting of the tournament, the United States fell to India, 3-2, in a match that turned after a promising start. Goalkeeper Kelsey Bing, who later earned her 100th cap in the Japan match, was beaten three times after the U.S. built an early 2-0 advantage.

Ashley Sessa and Maddie Zimmer gave the U.S. immediate control. Sessa opened the scoring with a field goal four minutes into the match, and Zimmer doubled the lead three minutes later by finishing a penalty corner.

India responded by leaning into its set-piece execution. Deepika scored on back-to-back attacking penalty corners in the second quarter to tie the score 2-2. Navneet Kaur then completed the comeback with another set-piece goal near the end of the third quarter, giving India the 3-2 victory.

USA vs. Uruguay: An offensive shift

The United States’ response against Uruguay was emphatic. After letting an early lead slip away against India, the Americans played with greater urgency, sharper pressure, and a more decisive attacking line in a 7-2 win.

Abby Tamer helped set that tone, reading one of her four goals in a high press inside the 23-meter area and finishing with authority off the backboard.

The result reflected a team more willing to press high, force turnovers, and capitalize on possession.

Ashley Sessa, Beth Yeager, and Ryleigh Heck also added one goal apiece for the U.S., while Lupe Curutchague and captain Manuela Vilar scored for Uruguay.

Jenny Rizzo conceded two goals.

USA vs. Japan: Confidence, control, and a shutout

Against Japan, the United States looked like a team growing into itself. A few give-and-go combinations were missed by inches, but the larger impression was one of focus. The anxiousness that once seemed to be an underlying factor due to demands of higher expectations has begun to fade, replaced by a clearer sense of roles and a more natural attacking rhythm.

Four years ago, the U.S. team was rebuilding. Now, the group, with new members on the roster, plays with greater pace, calculated risk-taking, and more visible confidence. That evolution matters because it shows up not only in results, but in the way the Americans are beginning to dictate the terms of matches rather than simply respond to them.

The 4-0 shutout gave Sessa another chance to show how quickly she can influence a match. Her back-to-back field goals combined precision with flair. For the U.S., the win was more than a clean sheet; it showed a team beginning to meet the program’s standards.

Additionally, here are the standings for Pool B.

Pool B Standings

1.       New Zealand, 3-0

2.       Chile, 1-1-1

3.       Korea, 0-2-1

4.       France, 0-1-2

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