Spain vs Ireland Preview & Prediction | 2026 Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup | First Round
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An all-European battle between Spain and Ireland is on deck, with the latter having gone through the qualifiers to make it to this stage.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – not televised / USA – USA’s matches will be televised live on CBS
How to watch online: UK – British home nation matches can be streamed live for free on Channel 4 Sport YouTube, while all matches can be streamed live on FIH Watch.Hockey / USA – USA’s matches can be streamed live on CBS digital platforms, while all matches can be streamed live on FIH Watch.Hockey
Spain vs Ireland prediction
World number six Spain were third-place finishers in last year’s EuroHockey Championship, beating Belgium on penalties after an unbeaten pool stage saw them reach the semi-finals before losing to formidable Netherlands. They were extremely sharp from the start in that tournament, which bodes well for them going into the first World Cup fixture, where they cannot afford to show any signs of rust.
It's incredible to think that Ireland were World Cup runners-up back in 2018, but have now slipped all the way down to number 12 in the world and had to go through the qualifiers to get here. However, they boast significant pedigree and whilst this Irish team may not be as strong as years gone by, Gareth Grundie’s side are dangerous opposition.
If ever there was a fixture where an upset could be on the cards, this may be the one, especially when you consider what Ireland are capable of and how good they looked in qualification. Therefore, explore the value play of backing Ireland to shock the Spaniards.
Spain vs Ireland tip: Ireland to win
