Hockey receives major honours at World Fair Play Awards!

    20 May, 2025 Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Fair Play Committee (CIFP) has awarded the Thailand Hockey Association (THA) and international hockey umpire Victoria Pazos (Paraguay) with the World Fair Play Diploma in the categories of “Willi Daume – Promotion of Fair Play” and “Jean Borotra – Career of Fair Play” respectively, in order to recognize their exemplary achievements in the world of sport and on the field of promoting fair play. The awards were officially received at the 2024 World Fair Play Awards Ceremony that took place last night in Budapest, Hungary. Their nominations for the prestigious award had been submitted by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on the following basis: The Thailand Hockey Association has played a pivotal role in elevating the Cambodian National Hockey Team to new heights on the international stage. Their generous assistance has enabled Cambodia to compete in major continental events, particularly Asian Indoor Hockey competitions, and gain invaluable experience at the highest level of the sport. Through ongoing training, coaching support, and competitive opportunities, THA has provided a foundation for Cambodian athletes—men, women, and young players—to represent their nation with pride and improve their skills. THA has also hosted the Cambodian National Team multiple times, offering them essential training opportunities, matches, and coaching assistance. THA has also extended its assistance in infrastructure development. Victoria Pazos embodies the true spirit of fair play, both as a highly respected young international hockey umpire and as a dedicated coach of the Intellectual Disability Hockey (Hockey ID) team in Paraguay. Known for her integrity, impartiality, and deep commitment to the sport, she consistently upholds the values of fairness and respect on and off the field. Her role extends beyond officiating. Through her work with the Hockey ID team, she promotes inclusion, sportsmanship, and equal opportunities for all athletes. FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “It’s a great honour for our sport to be recognised by the World Fair Play Committee with such prestigious awards. And not only once, but twice! Congratulations to the Thailand Hockey Association and our international umpire Victoria Pazos for their magnificent dedication. I’d also like to express our gratitude to the World Fair Play Committee. As an Olympic sport, we strongly believe in the role of sports to be a catalyst for change in society and to promote social values. Therefore, we’re leading and fostering concrete actions in this regard. After FIH won the IOC Climate Action Award last year, hockey now receives high recognition from the World Fair Play Committee. These acknowledgements are really encouraging.” Thailand Hockey Association President Dato Seri Chaiyapak Siriwat said: “The Thailand Hockey Association is deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the World Fair Play Committee. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Committee and to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for their unwavering commitment to supporting developing nations in their pursuit of sporting excellence. We share a collective mission — not only to grow the game of hockey, but to foster a spirit of solidarity in which nations, regardless of size or status, extend a hand to uplift one another. While we continue to navigate various challenges, the steadfast support of the FIH reinforces our commitment and further affirms our responsibility to assist in the development of others along this shared journey. We remain dedicated to advancing hockey in Thailand and throughout our region, using our beloved sport as a tool to empower, strengthen, and connect communities through mutual respect and collaboration.” International umpire Victoria Pazos said: “It is an unexpected honour to receive this diploma. Being recognized on this level gives me more energy to keep developing our sport in my country and in my continent, promoting its values. I am grateful for my national association (APH), my continental federation (PAHF) and FIH that give me the space to do all this.” For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website. #MadeForHockey Source: FIH.hockey

    FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2 Poland 2025: One Month to Go!

      16 May, 2025 The countdown has begun! In just one month, from 16 to 22 June 2025, the city of Wałcz, Poland, will host the inaugural edition of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2. This landmark event offers a pivotal platform for emerging national teams to showcase their talent on the international stage, with the opportunity to gain promotion to the FIH Nations Cup. A New Chapter in Women’s Hockey The FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2 serves as a stepping stone for teams aspiring to ascend the international hockey hierarchy. The tournament will feature eight teams: Czechia, France, Italy, Malaysia, Poland, South Africa, Uruguay, and Wales. These teams will compete not only for the title but also for a chance to progress to the FIH Hockey Nations Cup, bringing them closer to the top tier competition: the FIH Hockey Pro League. Tournament Structure and Fixtures The competition is divided into two pools: Pool A: Malaysia, Poland, South Africa, Uruguay Pool B: Czechia, France, Italy, Wales Each team will play round-robin matches within their pool, followed by classification matches, semi-finals, and the final. All-European Pool B matches between Italy vs Wales and France vs Czechia will start us off on 16 June, to be followed by Pool A match featuring South Africa vs. Uruguay, before the final match of opening day between hosts Poland and Malaysia. The pool stage matches will be played on 16, 17 and 19 June, followed by the classification matches and medal matches on the 21 and 22 June. The winning team from the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2 Poland 2025 will be promoted to the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2026, offering them a further pathway towards promotion to the FIH Hockey Pro League, the league of the best! Wałcz: Inaugural Hosts Wałcz, known for its rich sporting culture and scenic beauty, is set to provide a vibrant backdrop for this historic tournament. Hosting the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2 marks a significant milestone for the city, highlighting its growing presence in international hockey. Rafał Grotwski, President of the Polish Hockey Association said, “We are extremely pleased with the confidence FIH has placed in us. This is extremely important to us in our strategy for the development of women’s hockey in our country. 2025 is the year in which we invest in the development of women’s hockey and the opportunity to host teams in Poland from around the world will undoubtedly contribute to the spread of our sport.” Stay Connected Fans can follow all the action, including live scores, match updates, and news, on the official FIH website:FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2 Poland 2024-25. Exciting news coming soon about your favourite LIVE HOCKEY streaming platform! Stay tuned for more. As the countdown continues, the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2 promises a week of high-intensity hockey, national pride, and the pursuit of excellence. Source: FIH.hockey

      FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup Malaysia 2025: One Month to Go!

        15 May, 2025 With just one month remaining, the excitement is building for the third edition of the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup, set to take place from 15 to 21 June 2025 at the National Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This prestigious tournament offers a golden opportunity for strongest hockey nations outside the FIH Hockey Pro League to compete against each other, with the winner getting the opportunity to gain promotion for the 2025–26 season of the FIH Hockey Pro League. A Global Showdown in Kuala Lumpur The tournament will feature eight formidable teams: France, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Wales. Notably, seven of these teams participated in the 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup, underscoring the high caliber of competition expected in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia, hosting the Nations Cup for the first time, is poised to deliver an exceptional event. Subahan bin Kamal, President of the Malaysian Hockey Confederation, expressed enthusiasm: “We are grateful to FIH for entrusting us to host this amazing event. We believe this tournament will bring the best of world hockey talents to Malaysia” . Tournament Structure and Stakes The Nations Cup serves as a critical pathway for teams aspiring to ascend to the FIH Hockey Pro League. The tournament’s format includes a preliminary round with two pools, followed by classification matches, semi-finals, and the final. The ultimate winner will earn the opportunity to be promoted to the 2025–26 season of the FIH Hockey Pro League. The two pools in Malaysia will be: Pool A: France, Korea, South Africa, Wales Pool B: Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan The action begins on 15 June with all teams in action on opening day as Pool A encounters France vs Korea and South Africa vs. Wales will get us underway. New Zealand will take on Japan in the penultimate match of the opening day before the electric final match of the day that will pit hosts Malaysia against Pakistan! The pool stage matches will be played on 15,16 and 18 June, followed by the classification matches and medal matches on the 20 and 21 June. Since its inception in 2021, the FIH Hockey Nations Cup has been instrumental in providing top-tier competition for teams outside the Pro League. South Africa clinched the inaugural title in 2022, followed by New Zealand’s triumph in 2024. The 2025 edition in Malaysia continues this tradition, offering teams a platform to showcase their prowess on the international stage. Exciting news coming soon about your favourite LIVE HOCKEY streaming platform! Stay tuned for more. As the countdown continues, the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup Malaysia 2025 promises a week of high-intensity hockey, national pride, and the pursuit of excellence. Source: FIH.hockey

        USA building momentum towards LA28 after promising Nations Cup campaigns

          30 Apr, 2025 With the countdown to the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 ticking steadily, the USA’s women’s and men’s national hockey teams took important strides earlier this year at the FIH Hockey Nations Cup and FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2, respectively — showcasing emerging talents, building depth, and sharpening their long-term ambitions. At the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup in Santiago, Chile, the USA women’s team, under the guidance of Head Coach David Passmore, gained valuable experience despite a challenging competition where they finished fourth overall, narrowly missing out on a medal following a 2-1 loss to the hosts in the bronze medal match against hosts Chile. For Passmore, however, the tournament was always about more than immediate results. “This was a perfect opportunity to think longer term,” he said during the event. “We have a strong blend — experienced Olympians and exciting young players — and it’s vital to see how they cope under pressure. LA28 is very much a focus already. If you ignore it, it will come back to bite you later.” Passmore emphasized that with Paris 2024 experience and proof of concept, the team could afford to broaden its horizons — managing veteran players carefully while giving rising stars the opportunity to step up. “This is about building the right mental and physical readiness for the challenge of hosting the Games,” he added. One of the young players embracing that mission is Maddie Zimmer, who spoke about the team’s excitement and camaraderie during the Nations Cup campaign. “This is definitely the first step in a long journey towards LA,” Zimmer said. “It’s really special to know we’ll get to share the Olympics with the hockey world on home soil. We’re all motivated, and events like this help us build connections on and off the field.” Zimmer reflected a sentiment shared across the squad — that while the road to LA28 is long, the foundation is being laid now, through every match and every experience. Meanwhile, at the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup 2 in Muscat, Oman, the USA men’s team, led by Head Coach Allan Law, also made important strides, eventually finishing fourth after a strong campaign that included a semi-final appearance, finishing just shy of a podium place, after a shootout loss in the bronze medal match. “Our focus is on building our program, with LA as a real marker,” Law said after the tournament. “But it’s also about sustainability — making sure the USA is consistently competing in the top 15 globally, not just peaking for one Olympics.” Allan noted the resilience the team showed, even when facing defensive challenges from opponents like Egypt, Austria and eventual champions Scotland. “These experiences are part of the learning process. It’s about more than one tournament — it’s about preparing ourselves for the pressures and opportunities of playing at an Olympics on home ground.” With clear ambitions, growing depth, and a united sense of purpose, both the USA men’s and women’s teams are steadily building toward what promises to be a historic moment for American hockey at LA28. Source: FIH.hockey

          JAC 2024 (M/W) – South Africa Crowned Champions of Africa Once Again

            Junior Africa Cup – Final Recap | Windhoek, Namibia South Africa completed a golden campaign at the Junior Africa Cup in Windhoek, as both the U21 Men and Women defeated hosts Namibia to be crowned the Junior African Champions. Having already secured qualification to the FIH Junior World Cup, South Africa’s final victories added the ultimate finishing touch to a superb tournament — with the Men and Women affirming their status as Africa’s finest. Women’s Final: South Africa 5–0 Namibia In the women’s final, South Africa faced a determined Namibian side that proved difficult to break down early on. However, once captain Caylin Maree opened the scoring in the 21st minute, South Africa took control of the match. Ntsopa Mokoena continued her outstanding tournament with a brace, Maree added her second, and Jodie Blows put the finishing touches on a composed 5–0 victory. This triumph marks South Africa’s eighth consecutive Junior Africa Cup title, having won every edition since 1997. Men’s Final: South Africa 5–0 Namibia The South African U21 Men were clinical in the final, producing a powerful display against Namibia to claim back-to-back Junior Africa Cup titles and a sixth title in the past seven editions. Reuben Sendzul opened the scoring early, before tournament top scorer Jaydon Brooker netted twice to give South Africa a 3–0 lead at half-time. Ross Montgomery extended the advantage in the second half, with Viwe Mbata completing the 5–0 win late on. South Africa’s U21 Men end the tournament unbeaten, scoring 41 goals and conceding just 5. Africa’s World Cup Qualifiers Confirmed: Men: South Africa, Namibia, Egypt Women: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe Individual Awards – South African Winners: Dan Dillion: Goalkeeper of the Tournament (Men) Caylin Maree: Top Goal Scorer (Women) Jaydon Brooker: Top Goal Scorer (Men) Ntsopa Mokoena: Player of the Tournament (Women) Jaydon Brooker: Player of the Tournament (Men) South Africa will now prepare for the FIH Junior World Cup, where they will proudly represent Africa — arriving not just as participants, but as continental champions.