England learn Women’s World Championship opponents as schedule confirmed
England Women will open their World Championship campaign against Puerto Rico after being drawn together in Pool C for the Nissin Foods 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship set for 24 July - 2 August in Tokyo, Japan.
The World Championship bronze medallists have also been drawn alongside Scotland and Argentina after being placed into Pool C as one of the top four seeds for the tournament.
England’s Women will face Puerto Rico, ranked 11th in the world, for the first time at a major championship following their maiden meeting as part of a Florida Tour in the lead up to the 2022 World Championship where England ran out 17-5 winners.
That will be followed by a meeting against far more familiar opposition as England face Scotland in the pool stages for a third consecutive World Championship - the nation England also beat in the semi-final of the 2024 European Championship on the way to the gold medal.
England will round off Pool C with a first ever competitive meeting against 26th-ranked Argentina, and indeed an inaugural meeting between the two countries in international lacrosse as the countries aim for a top two finish to advance to the next stage.
Head Coach Mike Molster will now be looking to ramp up preparations for the three Pool Stage opponents after revealing his final 22-player squad in February.
And Molster’s squad will get the opportunity of a trial run against the their near neighbours Scotland at the Home Internationals Series next weekend at Lilleshall, as well as fixtures against Wales and a crunch meeting with guest nation and World Championship hosts Japan.
The 16 qualified teams were grouped using a seeded draw with the top four seeds (United States, Canada, England, and Japan) placed in Pools A to D and the remaining 12 teams drawn by pots into the four pools at random.
Teams were ranked based on their performance at the 2022 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship and performance in continental championships in the last two years.
The top two teams in each pool will advance to the quarter final playoffs with England’s Pool C lined up to face a team from Pool A, including reigning champions USA, Haudenosaunee, Ireland and Chinese Taipei.
England Pool C Fixtures
Saturday 25 July - England x Puerto Rico - 3.30pm (Local) - 7.30am (UK)
Monday 27 July - England x Scotland - 3.30pm (Local) - 7.30am (UK)
Tuesday 28 July - England x Argentina - 9am (Local) - 1am (UK)
Other Pools
Pool A
Haudenosaunee
Ireland
Chinese Taipei
United States
Pool B
Australia
Canada
Germany
Wales
Pool D
Czechia
Israel
Japan
Philippines