Junior Hockey World Cup: India and Pakistan to Clash in Pool B as Tournament Expands

India is gearing up to host the FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup, scheduled from November 28 to December 10 in Chennai and Madurai. The Indian team finds itself in Pool B, where they will compete against Pakistan, Chile, and Switzerland.

Hockey players compete for the ball during a match.

The draw ceremony, a significant event, took place at the FIH headquarters. This year's tournament is particularly noteworthy as it will be the first time that 24 teams participate, increasing the competition and showcasing emerging hockey nations.

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

The draw ceremony was attended by prominent figures including FIH President Tayyab Ikram, Hockey India (HI) 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," stated FIH President Ikram.

Bhola Nath Singh added: "Today marks a landmark moment for the world of hockey as we witness the pool draw for the inaugural FIH Junior Men's Hockey World Cup, featuring 24 nations."

Germany enters the tournament as the defending champion, having secured their seventh title by defeating France 2-1 in the 2023 final.