Chilean women's hockey coach sees World Cup surprise potential

The Chilean women's field hockey team, known as 'Las Diablas,' is setting its sights high for the 2026 World Cup in Amsterdam. Coach Cristóbal Rodríguez expressed confidence that the team can cause an upset in a competitive tournament. "We believe we can cause a surprise and aim for second place in the group, which would be a dream," Rodríguez told El Mercurio. "Realistically, a third-place finish would allow us to qualify for a spot between ninth and twelfth place."

Rodríguez acknowledged the strength of the competition, noting that while some teams have more experience, the group stages are expected to be closely contested. The Netherlands, the host nation and their first opponent on August 15, is considered the toughest challenge. "The Netherlands is the toughest opponent in the World Cup; they are very strong, and all their players compete in the top leagues worldwide," he stated. The team views their match against Japan as crucial for assessing their potential, with Australia being another key opponent in the first phase.

Captain Manuela Urroz emphasized the team's significant progress, attributing it partly to the legacy of the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, which improved infrastructure and boosted the sport's profile in Chile. "We are very happy to consolidate our presence in World Cups. Today, our reality is very different from four years ago," Urroz said. "This has generated greater interest and mass participation in our sport, allowing us to play all over Chile. I believe we must continue advancing in this direction."

Forward Sofía Filipek added to the optimistic outlook, stating, "We arrive with rhythm, confidence, and great desire. We feel very well-prepared; it has been a year of intense training and high-level competitions that have strengthened us and consolidated us much more as a team."