New Delhi: Hosts India were clubbed with arch-rivals Pakistan, Switzerland and Chile in the Group B of the junior men’s Hockey World Cup 2025 on Saturday. The World Cup would be co-hosted by Chennai and Madurai from November 28till December 10 this year.
For the very first time in its history, the tournament will feature 24 teams, it was revealed at the draw ceremony at the FIH headquarters in Switzerland. All the polls consist of four teams each. While Poll B had India and other three, Pool A consists of Germany, South Africa, Canada and Ireland. Pool C consists of Argentina, New Zealand, Japan and China
Pool A consists of Germany, South Africa, Canada and Ireland while Pool C will feature Argentina, New Zealand, Japan and China. Pool D features Spain, Belgium, Egypt and Namibia while in the Pool E, Netherlands, Malaysia, England and Austria are there. Pool F, which is the sixth and last pool, consists of France, Australia, Korea and Bangladesh.
FIH president in attendance
International Hockey Federation president Tayyab Ikram participated in the draw ceremony along with Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh, and Hockey India Director General RK Srivastava.
‘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,’ FIH chief Ikram said in a statement.
‘This World Cup also brings with it the opportunity to enhance our hockey infrastructure, and in the city of Madurai, introduce a new state-of-art hockey stadium,’ HI secretary general Bhola Nath said on the occasion.
(With PTI inputs)