FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025: Pools revealed!

    28 Jun, 2025 On the occasion of the draw ceremony held today in Lausanne, Switzerland the six Pools of the upcoming expanded FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu, India 2025, which will feature 24 teams for the very first time, have been determined as follows: Pool A: Germany, South Africa, Canada, Ireland Pool B: India, Pakistan, Chile, Switzerland Pool C: Argentina, New Zealand, Japan, China Pool D: Spain, Belgium, Egypt, Namibia Pool E: Netherlands, Malaysia, England, Austria Pool F: France, Australia, Korea, Bangladesh FIH President Tayyab Ikram participated in the draw ceremony along with Mr. Bhola Nath Singh, Hockey India Secretary General and Cdr. RK Srivastava, Hockey India Director General. Ahead of the draw ceremony, FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “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. I express my gratitude to the Tamil Nadu leadership Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for welcoming the young stars to the state of Tamil Nadu into the two beautiful cities of Chennai and Madurai. 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. I would also like to thank the Hon’ble Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Sports Minister of India Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya for seeing Hockey as a prime sport and supporting it not only in India, but also across Asia and globally.” Hockey India Secretary General, Mr Bhola Nath Singh said: “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. On behalf of Hockey India, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi ji, for his resolute support to hockey and its players across the nation. Under his visionary leadership and that of Hon’ble Sports Minister of India Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya ji, India’s hockey landscape has gained significant momentum. We also express our sincere thanks to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri M. K. Stalin ji, for his committed vision in promoting hockey both in Tamil Nadu and beyond. His dynamic leadership is further bolstered by the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Udhayanidhi Stalin ji, whose initiatives in youth sports and development continue to empower the next generation. This effort would not have been possible without the mentorship and support of our elder brother, Dato Tayyab Ikram ji, whose promotion of international hockey has been invaluable. In advance of the draw, I congratulate all 24 participating teams and warmly welcome each delegation to India. We hope this event offers a memorable and enriching experience for all.” The competition formula is available here. The FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu, India 2025 will be played in Chennai and Madurai, India, from 28 November to 10 December. All details about the event are available on FIH.hockey. Germany are the current Junior Men’s World Champions, having defeated France 2–1 in the final of the 2023 edition, to win a record-extending seventh title. Source: FIH.hockey

    FIH Academy Announces Strategic Partnership with RSI Sports Group (FIKAGEAR) New Collaboration to Advance Global Hockey Education and Development

      25 Jun, 2025 The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is proud to announce a new partnership with RSI Sports Group and the FIKAGEAR brand, as an official FIH Academy Partner. This collaboration marks an exciting step forward in the FIH’s mission to empower hockey development and education worldwide. As a global leader in sports infrastructure and performance equipment, RSI Sports Group brings innovative solutions and extensive expertise to the hockey community. Through the FIKAGEAR brand, the company has become known for delivering high-quality, sustainable hockey products that support player development at all levels – from grassroots to high performance. This new partnership will see RSI Sports Group (FIKAGEAR) working alongside the FIH Academy to support a wide range of educational initiatives across it`s 6 programme areas. Together, FIH and RSI Sports Group aim to expand access to quality learning opportunities and create environments that foster the next generation of the global hockey family. FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “We are delighted to welcome RSI Sports Group and Fikagear as our FIH Academy Partner. Their passion for innovation and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our values. This partnership will help us empower our National Association members, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to grow hockey in their communities.” Arnoud Fiolet, Managing Partner of RSI Sports Group (Fikagear), added: “We are proud to partner with the FIH Academy to support the global growth of hockey through education and innovation. With FIKAGEAR, our mission is to empower athletes and coaches with smart, sustainable ( Hockey5’s) solutions that enhance learning and performance. This partnership is a natural fit, and we’re excited to contribute to the development of hockey communities worldwide.” The partnership officially launches this month, with upcoming activations planned around FIH Academy events and regional development activities. For more information about the FIH Academy and upcoming programmes, visit: academy.fih.hockey RSI Sports Group (FIKAGEAR) Email: af@fikagear.com Website: www.fikagear.com About FIH Academy The FIH Academy is the education and development arm of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). It provides world-class training and certification for athletes, coaches, umpires, officials, events and executives, helping to grow and professionalise hockey in all corners of the globe. About RSI Sports / Fikagear RSI Sports is a global provider of advanced sports infrastructure and performance solutions. Through its Fikagear brand, the company focuses on hockey-specific equipment, hockey5s boards, coaching aids, and sustainable innovation to support athlete development and sports education.

      FIH joins IOC’s Olympic Day “Let’s Move?” campaign

        23 Jun, 2025 Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Olympic Committee (IOC), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), is launching the next iteration of its ongoing initiative aimed at inspiring and supporting people to move more. “Let’s Move?” shines a light on the benefits of playing sport and working out together, celebrating all the inspiration, connection and enjoyment this brings, and is the theme of this year’s Olympic Day, scheduled every year on 23 June. At the heart of the campaign is a simple, powerful idea: to get more young people moving — and to do it together by inviting a “+1” to walk, run, dance, skip or move with them. Whether through a community event, a walk with a friend, or a shared workout, every movement counts. As always, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) fully supports Olympic Day and urges the global hockey community to join the campaign in numbers by inviting a ‘+1’ to enjoy physical activity together — whether that’s at an Olympic Day activity or by simply asking a friend, colleague, or loved one to get active with you. FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “FIH is proud to support IOC’s Olympic Day and the correlated ‘Let’s Move?’ campaign. Sport promotes health. As a global sport, we have the potential to convey this message throughout the world. Therefore, I urge each and every one from the worldwide hockey community to invite a ‘+1’ and enjoy physical exercise. Let’s all be active and celebrate Olympic Day!” 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 #LetsMove #OlympicDay Source: FIH.hockey

        FIH Nations Cup 2 – France Triumph in a Finale for the Ages

          22 Jun, 2025 The final day of the FIH Nations Cup 2 delivered everything fans could have hoped for – drama, skill, heartbreak, and celebration. From a pulsating final where France edged Uruguay in a shootout classic, to Wales securing bronze with a gritty win over Poland, the tournament wrapped up in unforgettable style. Czechia staged a remarkable comeback to claim fifth, while Malaysia edged South Africa in another tense shootout to round off an action-packed day in Walcz. France (3) 3-3 (1) Uruguay An unforgettable final saw France and Uruguay deliver a classic filled with grit, flair, and a frenetic final five minutes that had everything. Uruguay took the early lead through Manuela Quinones after a blistering run from Manuela Vilar tore through the French defence. France hit back before the break with a powerful reverse stick finish from Mathilde Duffrene. It was Duffrene again who gave France the lead in the third quarter via a penalty corner, but the late drama was still to come. Uruguay equalised with four minutes to go through Vilar, before France surged ahead again just 49 seconds later thanks to a mazy Yohanna Lhopital run. With just seconds left, Sol Amadeo’s feather-touch finish sent the game to a shootout. Lucie Ehrmann was the hero, saving three shootout efforts to hand France the crown. Mathilde Duffrene, the player of the match, could not hide her emotion: “There is a lot of emotion and I’m not even sure where to begin. There are always sacrifices to get here, and I’m so proud of the team. The dream was to earn the FIH Nations Cup place, and we are delighted to have achieved that.” Wales 1-0 Poland In the only game of the day to not go to a shootout it was a battle of two brilliant defenses, both looking to end the tournament on a high. A first half that saw Wales dominate possession, but fail to find the final touch or combination would pass by without troubling the scorer. The games defining moment would come early in the second half. The penalty corner shot was well saved by Kucharska but Lily Roberts was on hand for the rebound and would fire in the goal that would ultimately prove to be the bronze medal winning goal. Elizabeth Bingham, was pleased mostly with the team effort after the game: “We were really disappointed on our performance yesterday and we wanted to come out on top today. We don’t rely on individuals we rely on our team effort. Im really proud of the team today.” Czechia (2) 3-3 (1) Italy Czechia and Italy served up a thriller in the 5th/6th playoff. Czechia struck first via Linda Nova, but Italy responded quickly with two goals in under a minute through Victoria Cabut and Lola Brea to lead at the end of the first quarter. Frederica Carta extended the Italian lead in the second half, but Czechia refused to go quietly. A second goal from Nova and a dramatic penalty stroke conversion by Natalie Hajkova with just nine seconds on the clock sent the game to a shootout. Nikol Babicka held her nerve to convert the decisive effort for Czechia. Katerina Lacina was once again delighted with the fight: “We didn’t give up today and we produced a great fight back. Its an important lesson to learn for the team and one we have to take forward to future games.” South Africa (3) 1-1 (4) Malaysia South Africa’s final game of the tournament was filled with missed chances and frustration. Thati Zulu hit the crossbar in a dominant first half, while several other chances went begging. Malaysia weathered the storm and then struck first through Nur Azhar in the final quarter. With four minutes remaining, Charne Maddocks gave South Africa hope, smashing home the equaliser to take the game to a shootout. Fatin Sukri stepped up for Malaysia and calmly slotted the winner to claim 7th place. Juliani Din, was delighted with the result: “It was important to get the win today. South Africa are a very good side so I am proud of my team. We have a young team and I am so proud to play with them!” To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2, click here. FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2 – 22 June 2025 Walcz, Poland (POL) Result Final France 3-3 Uruguay Player of the match: Umpires: Kelly-Anne Foskin (NZL), Jamie Telfer (SCO) Result Bronze Medal Wales 1-0 Poland Player of the match: Elizabeth Bingham (WAL) Umpires: Anna Ortega (ESP), Rob Argent (IRL) Result 5th Place Playoff Czechia (2) 3-3 (1) Italy Player of the match: Katerina Lacina (CZE) Umpires: Sharne Meyers (ZIM), Sarah Craig (IRL) Result 7th Place Playoff South Africa (3) 1-1 (4) Malaysia Player of the match: Juliani Din (MAS) Umpires: Yogita Pasi (IND), Ilaria Amorosini (ITA), Player Awards Best Junior Player – Mathilde Duffrene (FRA) Best Goalkeeper – Marta Kucharska (POL) Top Goalscorer – Manuela Vilar (URU) – 5 Goals Best Player – Manuela Vilar (URU) Source: FIH.hockey

          The Young Ball Patrol Behind FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2

            22 Jun, 2025 At the FIH Nations Cup 2 in Wałcz, while top athletes competed on the field, a dedicated group of young Polish volunteers stood proudly on the sidelines — the Ball Patrol team. Twenty young athletes, some just 10 years old, made an 16-hour round trip in a single day to be part of the tournament. For them, it was a chance to be close to the sport they love, to learn, and to dream of one day playing on that very field. FIH President Tayyab Ikram remarked: “Our sport lives through the dreams of the youth. The commitment and spirit shown by the Ball Patrol team in Wałcz was incredible. They are not only part of the event — they are the future of hockey. We thank them, and we believe in them” Their energy and belief lit up the sidelines — a powerful reminder that the next generation is already stepping forward.