24 Teams Set to Battle for Under-21 Glory in 14th Edition of Prestigious FIH Tournament
Patiala, 29 Match (Sports Desk)
The FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup 2025 will take place in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10, Hockey India confirmed on Friday. This marks the first time the Under-21 tournament will feature 24 teams vying for the prestigious title over two action-packed weeks.
Historically a 12-team event, the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup expanded to 16 teams starting with the 2001 edition, a format retained through the 2023 tournament in Malaysia. The 2025 edition, the 14th overall, will see its largest-ever field, hosted across two Tamil Nadu cities. India previously welcomed the event in Lucknow (2016) and Bhubaneswar (2021), making this its third time hosting.
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Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey expressed excitement about the expanded format: “With 24 teams competing this time, we’re bringing the Junior World Cup to two cities—Chennai and Madurai. Chennai, which successfully hosted the Asian Champions Trophy in 2023, is joined by Madurai, hosting an international event of this scale for the first time.”
Germany, the most decorated team in the tournament’s history with seven titles, enters as defending champions after defeating France in the 2023 final at Malaysia’s National Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. India, meanwhile, finished fourth in 2023, falling 3-1 to Spain in the bronze-medal match—a repeat of their 2021 loss to France (3-1) in the same playoff. The Indian junior team boasts two titles, won in 2001 and 2016, and will aim to reclaim glory on home soil.
As anticipation builds, the 2025 edition promises fierce competition and a historic showcase of young hockey talent in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 onward.
