Junior Hockey World Cup: India to Clash with Pakistan in Pool B as Host Nation Prepares

India is preparing to host the FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup from November 28 to December 10, with matches to be held in Chennai and Madurai. The host nation finds itself in Pool B alongside rivals Pakistan, Chile, and Switzerland, promising some intense early competition.

A dynamic hockey match in progress.

The official draw ceremony, a landmark event, took place at the FIH headquarters, signifying the first time the tournament will showcase an expanded field of 24 teams. This expansion underscores the global growth and increasing competitiveness of junior men's hockey.

The composition of the other pools is as follows:

• Pool A: Germany, South Africa, Canada, and Ireland
• Pool C: Argentina, New Zealand, Japan, and China
• Pool D: Spain, Belgium, Egypt, and Namibia
• Pool E: Netherlands, Malaysia, England, and Austria
• Pool F: France, Australia, Korea, and Bangladesh

FIH President Tayyab Ikram, Hockey India (HI) Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh, and Hockey India Director General RK Srivastava were all present at the draw ceremony.

Ikram emphasized the significance of the expanded tournament, stating, "It is a great pleasure for me to be here ahead of a milestone moment as we start the journey towards the first ever 24-team FIH Junior Hockey World Cup! It is a part of the FIH strategy to empower and engage the youth from all nations, including the emerging nations, and this event will be the first step towards doing that."

Bhola Nath added that the tournament provides an opportunity to bolster hockey infrastructure. A new state-of-the-art hockey stadium will be introduced in the city of Madurai.

Germany enters the tournament as the defending champions, having secured their seventh title by defeating France 2-1 in the 2023 final. The Junior Men's World Cup promises a thrilling display of talent and competition as teams vie for the coveted title.