Stars ready to shine as FIH Nations Cup countdown begins in Auckland

For the first time in nearly a decade, a major international hockey tournament is set to take place on New Zealand shores.

Auckland put on a spectacular show this morning as the captains of the eight competing nations gathered ahead of the 2026 FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup. A layer of cloud blanketed the city, with the Sky Tower rising above the skyline to provide a stunning backdrop for the official pre-tournament photo shoot.

Excitement is building as players from across the globe come together ahead of what promises to be an exciting week of international hockey.

For Vantage Black Sticks Women captain Olivia Shannon, the opportunity to defend a Nations Cup title on home soil places New Zealand in a unique position.

"We are usually the underdogs, so to go out there as the defending champions of this tournament, it's really important that we perform well."

Shannon's appointment as captain for the tournament marks another milestone in her career, leading New Zealand at a major international event at home for the first time.

She says the support of local fans will play a significant role throughout the week.

"For the team, playing at home means a lot. We haven't had a tournament here in nine years, so to have an FIH event in New Zealand means a lot not only to us, but to the hockey community and the whole country. It's really exciting."

The tournament gets underway on Monday, with the Vantage Black Sticks Women opening their campaign against Korea at 6:00pm.

Shannon says the squad is ready for the challenge.

"Preparation has been really good. We've had two practice matches, some quality training sessions, and now a rest day before our captain's run tomorrow."

"The girls have done the work while they've been away, and coming into camp everything is looking really positive. We're excited to get started."

Action begins earlier in the day when the United States take on India in what shapes as one of the standout matches of the opening round.

For all eight nations competing in Auckland, the tournament presents a significant opportunity, with promotion to the FIH Pro League available to the tournament winner.

United States captain Meredith Sholder said her team is embracing the challenge.

"We have some really good competition coming up. The squad here has been working really hard, so I'm excited to see how we perform."

Fans can still purchase tickets to attend matches at the North Harbour Hockey Centre. For those unable to attend, all Vantage Black Sticks Women matches will be broadcast live and free on TVNZ+, while the full tournament will be available on HockeyTV.