International Federation of Women's Hockey Associations

The Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) was formed in 1924 to govern men’s field hockey competitions. Lacking an international governing body for women’s competitions in the sport, the International Federation of Women’s Hockey Associations (IFWHA) was founded in 1927, with eight founding members: Australia, Denmark, England, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, the United States, and Wales.

The début of the Women’s Hockey World Cup happened in 1974, in Mandelieu, France. When women’s hockey was added to the Olympic Programme in 1980, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) demanded that the IFWHA and the FIH merge. On 23 April 1983, the IFWHA was dissolved, and women’s hockey became part of the FIH.