Indoor Hockey World Cup Archives

SA Indoor Hockey Teams Set for Indoor World Cup Challenge

South African Hockey proudly bid farewell to the SA Indoor Men’s and Women’s teams as they embark on their journey to the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup. The official send-off event took place at Southern Sun, marking the final step before the teams take on the world’s best in their quest for glory. The event was attended by key figures in South African sport, including SASCOC President Barry Hendricks, who extended his well wishes to the teams. “Competing at a World Cup is a great honour, and we have full confidence that these players will make South Africa proud,” said Hendricks. SA Hockey Vice President Lwandi Simelane expressed gratitude to the sponsors who have made this campaign possible and encouraged the teams to embrace the opportunity ahead. “Our teams stand on the shoulders of those who believe in South African hockey, and we thank our partners for ensuring our players can compete on the global stage. Now, it’s time for the teams to embrace the moment and make history,” said Simelane. With the tournament fast approaching, team captains Dayaan Cassiem (Men) and Jamie Southgate (Women) reaffirmed their commitment to giving their all for their country. “We are ready to shine, to compete with pride, and to showcase the best of South African indoor hockey,” said Cassiem. Southgate echoed his sentiments, emphasizing the unity and determination within both squads. South African Hockey extends its appreciation to PSI Franchise Quaggas for their generous support in making the send-off event a success. The FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup presents an opportunity for South Africa’s best to showcase their talent, compete against the world’s elite, and continue the proud tradition of excellence in the sport. With the nation behind them, the SA Indoor teams are ready to take on the challenge. Pictures – Karl Seebach Source: sahockey.co.za | Date: January 29, 2025

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup Croatia 2025: One month to go!

03 Jan, 2025 The thrill, excitement, and fast-paced action of indoor hockey is just one month away as the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup 2025 approaches! Taking place in Poreč, Croatia, with the country hosting its first FIH World Cup, from 3-9 February, the tournament promises to bring together the world’s best teams in a spectacular showcase of skill, strategy, and passion. The FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup is renowned for its electrifying atmosphere, where agility, precision, and teamwork take center stage. Played on a smaller field with boards lining the boundaries, the indoor format elevates the intensity and makes for edge-of-the-seat action that captivates fans worldwide. The 2025 edition will feature 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams, each vying for the coveted title. Powerhouses like Austria and Germany will look to defend their legacies, while rising stars and underdogs aim to make history. Hockey is more than just a game—it’s a unifier. The Indoor World Cup will once again celebrate the diversity and global appeal of hockey, with athletes and fans from all corners of the world coming together to share their love for the sport. The 2025 edition also welcomes two men’s and two women’s teams that will make their debut on the big stage with Croatia and Malaysia debuting in the men’s competition, while it will be Croatia and Thailand marking their first appearance in the women’s side. Participating teams in the men’s competition include Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Iran, Malaysia, Namibia, Poland, South Africa and Trinidad & Tobago. In the women’s competition, it will be Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Germany, Namibia, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Thailand and the United States competing for the top prize. What to Expect World-Class Hockey: From dazzling dribbles to stunning saves, the competition will feature the sport’s elite players showcasing their finest skills. Fan Engagement: Fans from all around the world can enjoy a vibrant atmosphere in the picturesque city of Poreč, and the opportunity to support their teams right from the sidelines, inches away from the action! Unforgettable Moments: The tournament is sure to deliver drama, excitement, and memories that will last a lifetime. Mark Your Calendars! With just one month to go, the anticipation is palpable. Whether you’re planning to watch live in Poreč, or follow the action from home, don’t miss a moment of this iconic event. For more details on the event including the information on the complete match schedule and the platform to purchase tickets, click here. Let the countdown to the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup Croatia 2025 begin! Source: FIH.hockey

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup Croatia 2025: Ticket sales begin today!

Lausanne, Switzerland: The FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup Croatia 2025 promises to be one of the most exciting events in the indoor hockey calendar, bringing together the world’s top teams for a high-paced, action-packed tournament. Set to take place in the historic city of Poreč, Croatia, from 3-9 February, 2025, the event will see elite men’s and women’s teams from across the globe battle for supremacy in this unique and fast-paced format of the game. The ticket sales for the event have begun today and can be purchased by clicking here (English) or here (Croatian). Venue: Zatika Arena The 2025 Indoor Hockey World Cup will be hosted at the Zatika Arena, one of Croatia’s premier indoor sports venues. With a seating capacity of 3700, this state-of-the-art facility has previously hosted major international sporting events, making it the ideal location for this global hockey spectacle. Fans can expect a vibrant atmosphere as the world’s best teams compete in an environment designed to enhance the viewer experience, both in person and online. Teams to Watch The FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup will feature 12 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams, each representing the best of indoor hockey from across their respective continents. Europe, known for its strong indoor hockey tradition, will once again provide formidable competitors, with Austria men returning to defend their title while German men’s and women’s teams, who missed out on the previous edition, will each look to add to their tally of three world cup trophies. Teams from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania will also showcase their talents, with many nations seeking to establish dominance or claim their first title in the indoor format. While Germany and Austria have traditionally been powerhouses in indoor hockey, many others like Iran, Czechia, Poland have emerged as strong contenders, who will once again be in the mix for the title and podium places. This diverse mix of teams ensures a thrilling tournament full of surprises, skill, and international flair. A Unique Format Indoor hockey is known for its intensity and the high technical qualities required, with smaller teams, quicker games, and high-scoring matches, making it a fan favourite. Played in a 6-a-side format, the tournament emphasises speed, agility, and tactical precision. Games are shorter than traditional outdoor hockey with perimeter boards on the sides keeping the ball in play for longer, adding to the excitement and unpredictability of the competition. The 12 teams (in men’s and women’s competition) have been placed into three pools of four teams each. Men’s Pool A: Austria, South Africa, Poland, Croatia Pool B: Iran, Argentina, Germany, Malaysia Pool C: Belgium, Australia, Namibia, Trinidad & Tobago Women’s Pool A: Czechia, Belgium, USA, Croatia Pool B: Austria, South Africa, Poland, Thailand Pool C: Australia, Germany, Namibia, New Zealand The top-8 teams from across the three pools will qualify for the quarterfinals, while the remaining teams will play in the 9-12 position playoffs. Schedule The schedule for the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup Croatia 2025 can be found here. Ticketing Information With indoor hockey growing in popularity, tickets for the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup Croatia 2025 are expected to be in high demand. Fans eager to witness the fast-paced action live, in the most vibrant of settings, can purchase tickets online starting today, 17 October, by clicking here (English) or here (Croatian). Croatia: A First-Time Host This is the first time that Croatia will host a global FIH event, and the country is gearing up to welcome players and fans from all over the world. With a growing stature in international hockey, Croatia’s hockey community is excited to showcase its facilities and passion for the sport on the global stage. The event is not only a significant opportunity for Croatian hockey but also for fans worldwide to experience the sport in a new and vibrant setting. The FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup Croatia 2025 is set to deliver unforgettable moments of sporting excellence, with the world’s best indoor hockey players ready to compete at the highest level. As we countdown to February 2025, the anticipation continues to build for what promises to be a spectacular event that will bring together the global hockey community in celebration of the indoor format. FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “With the launch of the ticketing process, the 2025 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Poreč, Croatia, is becoming even more “real”, in particular for the fans who can now make sure that they won’t miss the party! This is all the more exciting that Croatia will host an FIH World Cup for the very first time! It’s a commitment from FIH and from myself to organise our events in new territories, and therefore garner new fans. We look forward to a magnificent event!” Croatian Hockey Federation President Damir Hrupec added: “We are very proud that the Croatian Hockey Federation is organising the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup 2025 in Poreč, Croatia. We welcome you all to join this tournament! The Croatian Hockey Federation and all hockey players in Croatia can’t wait to show how “small” hockey countries are capable of organising such a big event. I am convinced that everyone who comes will enjoy top-class indoor hockey, Poreč and Croatia.” Mark your calendars for this exciting showcase of skill, speed, and strategy! #IHWC2025 #HockeyEquals #HockeyInvites For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X – and website.

Namibia and South Africa seal FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup 2025 spots

Lausanne, Switzerland: The Indoor Africa Cup 2024 came to an end yesterday with Namibia men and South Africa women winning gold and securing their spot at the upcoming FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup 2025, which will be played in Poreč, Croatia from 3-9 February 2025. With two men’s and two women’s spots available from Africa for the world Cup, South Africa men and Namibia women also qualified for the upcoming premier indoor hockey competition by finishing as the silver medalists at the Indoor Africa Cup. In the men’s competition South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana competed in the round-robin stage with each team facing the other three once. South Africa won all three matches in this stage to finish top of the standings, followed by hosts Namibia finishing second by winning their games against Zimbabwe and Botswana by comfortable margins. As the top-2 finishers, South Africa and Namibia headed straight to the final. By virtue of their top-2 finish, both teams also qualified for the FIH Men’s Indoor Hockey World Cup Croatia 2025. The two teams had produced a thriller in their round-robin match with South Africa winning out in a tense 5-4 encounter and the finals produced more of the same. After a goalless first half, the match sprung into action with South Africa scoring two quick goals early in the third quarter. Namibia finished the quarter strongly though, scoring twice in the final two minutes to go level into the final quarter. South Africa pulled ahead in the final quarter, but once again Namibia had the answer as the regulation period ended with the two teams tied at 3-goals apiece, sending the title match into the shoot-outs. The teams matched each other through the first phase of the shoot-out, with both sides scoring twice and missing once, sending the contest into sudden-death. South Africa blinked first in the nervy moments, and Namibia sealed the win and the title with a 4-3 win in the shoot-outs to become the champions of Africa. In the women’s competition South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana competed in the round-robin stage with each team facing the other three once. South Africa finished top of the table with 2 wins and a draw. Namibia had a similar record, but an inferior goal difference saw them finish second. In their head-to-head match up South Africa and Namibia drew the game 1-1 and with both teams headed to the final, a thrilling contest awaited. By virtue of their top-2 finish, both South Africa and Namibia had already qualified for the FIH Women’s Indoor Hockey World Cup Croatia 2025. The bragging rights in Africa were still up for grabs however, and the final did not disappoint. In a game of two halves, South Africa were phenomenal in the first, scoring three unanswered goals to take a 3-0 lead into the break. But Namibia came blazing back in the second half scoring 3 goals of their own to send the match into a shoot-out with the score tied at 3-3 at the end of regulation period. Both teams missed two attempts and scored one in the first phase of the shoot-out, and the game went into the sudden-death phase. South Africa scored their first attempt, while Namibia missed theirs, making South Africa the champions of indoor hockey in Africa! Jamie Southgate, captain of the South African women’s team, speaking on her team’s performance said: “We are so proud of the team’s performance. It’s a really happy moment to once again be the African champions and we are really looking forward to once again being in the Indoor Hockey World Cup.” #IHWC2025 #HockeyEquals #HockeyInvites 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.

Namibia Upsets South Africa to Claim Indoor Hockey Men’s African Cup

The South African Indoor Hockey Men, backed by Tops at SPAR, aimed to reaffirm their dominance in African hockey as they sought to retain their title as African Champions. Although both teams had already qualified for the Indoor World Cup in Croatia, pride was still very much at stake, creating a tense atmosphere. The opening quarter saw few chances, with a notable save from DJ Strauss keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. The second quarter mirrored the first in its defensive intensity. South Africa had a golden opportunity with a penalty stroke, but Mustapha Cassiem’s attempt was brilliantly saved by Strauss, leaving the score level at halftime. The game’s much-needed breakthrough came from Mustapha Cassiem, who, with his back to the goal, executed a trademark roundhouse shot into the bottom corner. Cassiem soon turned provider, setting up Langford for a swift counterattack goal. Cullin de Jager’s impressive triple save was followed by Fagan Hansen pulling one back for Namibia from a penalty corner. Just before the break, Hansen equalized from another penalty corner, setting up a thrilling final 10 minutes. In the final quarter, Cassiem once again showcased his talent with a stunning finish into the roof of the net, but Namibia quickly equalized through Cody van der Merwe. The match ended in a draw, leading to a shootout. The shootout extended to five rounds, with Namibia emerging victorious. Captain DJ Strauss was the hero, leading the underdogs to a landmark win over South Africa. Individual Awards – Indoor Africa Cup 2024 Goalkeeper of the tournament – Cullin de Jager (South Africa) Player of the tournament – Ernest Jacobs (Namibia) Top Goal scorer – Mustapha Cassiem (South Africa) Final Standings – Indoor Africa Cup 2024 1 – Namibia 2 – South Africa 3 – Zimbabwe