New Delhi, June 11 (Agency) The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Tuesday announced that India will be the host of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup in December 2025. This event will mark the 14th edition of the Junior Hockey World Cup and will, for the first time, feature 24 teams. The specific host city is yet to be disclosed. FIH President Tayyab Ikram expressed enthusiasm about expanding the tournament to include more teams, highlighting it as part of their strategy to offer more playing opportunities to a wider range of national associations. “I’m very happy that we’ve increased the number of participating teams for the FIH Hockey Junior World Cups and I look forward to seeing these 24 young teams, representing the future of our sport, next year,” Ikram stated. The previous edition of the tournament was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2023, where India finished fourth after losing 4-1 to Germany in the semifinals and 3-1 to Spain in the third-place playoff.
Germany emerged as the champion of the 2023 event. This will be the fourth time India has hosted the Junior Hockey World Cup. New Delhi hosted the tournament in 2013, followed by Lucknow in 2016, and Bhubaneswar in 2021.Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey commented on the significance of hosting the tournament, emphasising India’s commitment to the sport. “This prestigious tournament highlights India’s growing importance in international hockey and shows our dedication to developing the sport for future generations. We are excited to share India’s rich hockey history and provide a stage for young talent to showcase their skills,” said Tirkey. India has a notable history in the Men’s Junior World Cup, having won the title twice — in 2001 in Australia and on home soil in 2016. Germany remains the most successful team in the tournament’s history, having secured the championship seven times since its inception in 1979.