Chile to host 2025 Women’s Junior World Cup

02 Dec, 2024 Chile’s capital city, Santiago, will host the 11th edition of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup next year*, as revealed by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) today. The South American nation has become a true cradle for rising stars, hosting this event for the fourth time. Moreover, much to the delight of the hockey fans, there will be 8 more teams to cheer for this time around! Indeed, with one of the key pillars of the FIH Empowerment and Engagement strategy being to give more opportunities to play to a larger and more diverse number of National Associations, the 2025 FIH Hockey Junior World Cups – women and men – will involve 24 teams for the first time ever in the history of FIH! On top of hosts Chile, the following teams have already qualified for the event: Europe: Netherlands, Spain, England, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Wales, Scotland Pan America: Argentina, USA, Uruguay, Canada The teams from Africa, Asia and Oceania will qualify at a later stage. “We are thrilled to announce some excellent news: Santiago de Chile will host the upcoming Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup! This prestigious event, which brings together the world’s brightest young talents and future generations of hockey stars, will take place at the home of our ‘Diablas and Diablos’. This will undoubtedly boost the growth and development of hockey in our region. We deeply appreciate the trust placed in Hockey Chile by the President of the International Hockey Federation, Mr. Tayyab Ikram. This recognition reaffirms Chile’s commitment, through the leadership of our Board of Directors, to actively support and contribute to the global development of hockey. We eagerly look forward to welcoming you all to Santiago de Chile in December 2025!”, said Andrés de Witt, President of the Chilean Field Hockey Federation and the Local Organizing Committee. FIH President Tayyab Ikram added: “Expanding opportunities and fostering inclusivity are at the heart of our mission to grow hockey globally. The FIH Hockey Junior World Cups represent the vibrant future of our sport, celebrating extraordinary young talent from across the globe. The 2025 edition in Santiago, Chile, will bring together 24 dynamic teams from around the world, offering an unparalleled showcase of competition and diversity. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Chilean Hockey Federation and the local authorities for their unwavering dedication and enthusiasm in hosting this prestigious event. A special note of deep appreciation goes to Mr. Andrés De Witt Hepp, President of the Federación Chilena de Hockey, whose visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to the development of hockey at all levels have been instrumental in making this a reality. Together, we aim to inspire the next generation, leave a lasting legacy, and elevate hockey to unprecedented heights!” The last edition of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup took place in 2023, also in Santiago, and was won by the Netherlands. *the dates of the 2025 edition will be confirmed at a later stage All information about the FIH Hockey Junior World Cups is available here. The world rankings for Junior teams are available here. #RisingStars #HockeyInvites #HockeyEquals Source: FIH.hockey

We are all #MadeForHockey!

29 Nov, 2024 On the occasion of the FIH Diversity and Inclusion Day (30 November 2024), the global hockey community is invited to reinforce its commitment to some of the most important values in sport, and society. The third edition of this yearly Day reminds us how essential these values are to our sport and its community. Quite appropriately, it comes only a few weeks after hockey’s world governing body launched its Women in Hockey Empowerment Project – a transformative platform designed to uplift and engage female players, coaches, officials, and leaders in the sport – that is being promoted under the banner #MadeForHockey. This year, FIH President Tayyab Ikram, FIH Players of the Year Yibbi Jansen and Harmanpreet Singh, FIH Goalkeepers of the Year Ye Jiao and PR Sreejesh, FIH Coach of the Year Alyson Annan, FIH Umpire of the Year Steve Rogers, FIH Honorary Member and Chair of the Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Marijke Fleuren, FIH Athletes Committee Chair Camila Caram, Olympian Onthatile Zulu, Hockey ID players Martin Plaza de los Reyes and Nil Ferre Martin-Borregon have all lent their voices to record the following message in a joined video clip: Today is FIH Diversity and Inclusion Day. No matter your gender … No matter your ethnic background … No matter your physical or intellectual abilities … No matter your sexual orientation … No matter your age … … EVERYONE is welcome in hockey! Diversity is wealth. Inclusion must be the norm. WE ARE ALL #MadeForHockey! Commenting on the FIH Diversity and Inclusion Day, FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “Diversity and inclusion are core values of society and intrinsic to sport in general and hockey in particular. Nevertheless, we must constantly remember how essential these values are, and also how fragile. Therefore, it is up to all of us to preserve and promote them. Hockey can contribute positively to society by fostering inclusivity, promoting diversity, and building strong communities. Our mission is to make hockey accessible to everyone. I thank all the stakeholders in the global hockey community who, through their tireless and passionate work, magnify these values on a daily basis. I am thinking first and foremost of the clubs and educators. I encourage everyone to do even more to make all feel welcome in our wonderful hockey family. Since we are all … #MadeForHockey!” #MadeForHockey

ACCC – 35th Men & 26th Women Hosting Contracts Signed

28 November, 2024 The contract signing ceremony for the 35th Men & 26th Women “Africa Cup for Club Champions” [ACCC] in Port Said city, Egypt during the period 24-31 January 2025, has been held today. Both tournaments are being hosted by the Egyhockey 2023/2024 season club league champions Sharkia Club (M/W) under the auspices of the Egyptian Hockey Federation. International Hockey Federation (FIH) الأتحاد المصرى للهوكى EgyHockey Sharkia SC Sharkia Hockey Team #ACCC #AfricaHockeyNews #HockeyInvites #ClubHockey

Hockey’s first ever participation in Olympic Solidarity Youth Athlete Development Programme

27 Nov, 2024 The International Hockey Federation (FIH), with the support of Olympic Solidarity, the Asian Hockey Federation, the Malaysian National Olympic Committee, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation and the Raja Ashman Shah Hockey Academy will be delivering the FIH World Youth Hockey5s Festival from 16-21 December 2024 in Ipoh, Malaysia. The project, made possible through the Olympic Solidarity Youth Athlete Development Programme, is supporting over 500 young athletes to participate in National Training Camps and the FIH World Youth Hockey5s Festival. 24 teams from 17 nations will participate in the programme including Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malawi, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Zambia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, Brunei and Thailand. FIH President Tayyab Ikram said of the project: “This marks the first time the FIH has had the privilege to conduct the prestigious IOC Olympic Solidarity Youth Athlete Development Programme. This initiative is a significant investment in the future generations of emerging nations and will provide immense benefits to young athletes. What makes this programme particularly special is that it caters to two continents simultaneously, bringing them together under the guidance of our qualified experts. We are confident and hopeful that this initiative will play a vital role in ensuring the sustainable development in these regions. Regular follow-ups will be conducted as part of the FIH Empowerment and Engagement Strategy to ensure its success and impact. We also plan to expand this programme to remaining continents starting next year, enabling even broader participation and benefits. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the IOC for their special initiative for emerging nations and NOCs, as well as to our gracious hosts in Ipoh and Malaysia for welcoming participants from two continents and supporting this meaningful endeavor.” The objective of the Olympic Solidarity Youth Athlete Development Programme is to offer assistance to National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to identify and train young athletes for youth competitions as part of the pathway to participation in the Youth Olympic Games. For this particular project, the offer is to support NOCs to access International Federation (IF) Training Opportunities. The programme is specifically for nations with a low representation level in the Olympic Games (based on Tokyo 2020). Boys and girls teams from the under 16 age groups, together with young leaders/umpires and team coaches will participate in National Training Camps in their home nation, and in the World Youth Hockey5s Festival in Ipoh. The Festival will include a range of learning opportunities for all participants, including classroom based workshops, pitch sessions and festival competition. FIH Academy Educators will facilitate all sessions in collaboration with National Coaches. FIH Head of Education Development Mike Joyce added: “The project is a great opportunity for us to support many of our smallest hockey nations with youth talent identification and development. The financial support provided to NOCs by Olympic Solidarity has made this fantastic project possible.” Source: FIH.hockey

FIH Celebrates World Children’s Day with the Body Confident Sport program

20 Nov, 2024 On World Children’s Day 2024, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) is proud to highlight its commitment to empowering young girls through the Body Confident Sport program. Launched during the 49th Statutory Congress of the FIH earlier this month, this initiative aligns with the 2024 theme, “Listen to the Future,” emphasizing the importance of hearing and addressing the voices of young people to shape a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow. Body Confident Sport is a tool co-created by Nike and Dove, and funded by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which tackles one of the critical challenges faced by girls in sports: low self-esteem linked to negative body image, with research showing that nearly half of teenage girls (aged 11–17) drop out of sports due to body image insecurities. FIH is using this platform to amplify the voices of girls, ensuring their needs and aspirations are heard and met through meaningful action. The Body Confident Sport program aims to bring about change by helping girls and young people of all gender identities feel comfortable and confident in their own bodies while participating in sports, including hockey. Through a combination of coach education and practical, easy-to-use program guides, the initiative provides both coaches and players with the tools, knowledge and inspiration to foster body-confident athletes. By rolling out the coaching tool globally, FIH aims to provide hockey coaches with practical resources to create supportive and inclusive environments. This project reflects FIH’s dedication to ensuring that every girl feels valued, confident, and inspired to stay active in hockey, offering opportunities for self-expression, growth, and empowerment. Commenting on the initiative, FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “World Children’s Day, with its theme ‘Listen to the Future,’ perfectly embodies what the Body Confident Sport program stands for. This initiative, launched during the FIH Congress, is about listening to the voices of young girls, addressing their concerns, and creating an inclusive environment where they can thrive. By fostering body confidence, we aim to ensure that everyone feels supported and empowered to pursue their passion for hockey, shaping the future of the sport and society alike.” This effort will be promoted under the empowering banner of #MadeForHockey, set to become a powerful symbol for women’s empowerment in hockey. About World Children’s Day Observed annually on November 20, World Children’s Day 2024 focuses on the theme “Listen to the Future,” emphasizing the importance of prioritizing children’s voices in creating a better world. By empowering girls and addressing their challenges, the Body Confident Sport program exemplifies the transformative power of sport to inspire confidence, inclusivity, and leadership among young athletes. For more information on this initiative and other FIH programs, visit madefor.hockey. Source: FIH.hockey