The Irish women’s hockey team will compete in the upcoming World Cup without veteran goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran, who is sidelined due to an injury. McFerran, a standout player who earned Goalkeeper of the Tournament honors during Ireland’s silver medal run in 2018, leaves a significant void in the squad.
Coach Gareth Grundie has selected a 20-player roster for the tournament in Wavre, Belgium. In place of McFerran, the team will look to Lizzy Murphy and Holly Micklem, both of whom have the opportunity to make their debut on the world stage. Ireland, currently ranked 12th, faces a tough Pool C schedule featuring Spain, New Zealand, and Belgium starting on August 16.
Simultaneously, the Ireland men’s team is preparing for their first World Cup appearance since 2018. Coach Mark Tumilty is keeping the same 20-man squad that successfully qualified in Santiago earlier this year. Ranked 10th globally, the men’s side begins their campaign against Australia on August 16, followed by matches against South Africa and Spain.
For both squads, success hinges on finishing in the top two of their respective pools to advance toward the semi-finals. Those who land in third or fourth will head to Pool H for classification rounds.
